Known as Cloch Othanain, meaning “the Rock of Othanan”, the castle’s presence is now barely discernible, reduced to little more than a memory in the landscape. The OS Letters from the 1930s describe finding only “the indistinct ruin of another old castle” at the site, suggesting that even by then, time had already taken its toll on the structure.

The ringfort that once protected this castle sits on flat, low-lying pastureland, though you’d be hard-pressed to spot much evidence of either fortification today. Around 20 to 30 years ago, the site was levelled to make way for modern development, with a bungalow now standing just south of where the castle’s southeast quadrant would have been. The current landowner recalls seeing a heap of stones at the centre of the ringfort when he was a child; these may well have been the last visible remains of the medieval castle.

This site represents a common story across Ireland, where ancient fortifications and castles have gradually disappeared beneath the demands of modern agriculture and housing. The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary records these vanished places, preserving at least the memory of structures that once dominated the local landscape. While visitors today will find little to see beyond pasture and modern buildings, the very name of the townland continues to echo the presence of Othanan’s long-lost stronghold.