The estate, which dates back to the 17th century, was home to the Birmingham family, who held significant influence in the region for generations. Today, visitors can explore the atmospheric ruins and traces of formal gardens that hint at the property’s former grandeur, including the remains of a walled garden and several outbuildings that once supported a thriving estate economy.

The site’s most intriguing feature is the Court, a substantial stone structure that served as the main residence. Though now roofless and weathered by centuries of Atlantic storms, the building’s thick walls and elegant window frames still stand testament to its Georgian architectural origins. The Court was built in the traditional big house style common among the landed gentry, with its imposing facade designed to project authority over the surrounding tenant farms. Archaeological evidence suggests the site may have had earlier medieval foundations, possibly dating to a tower house that predated the Birmingham family’s arrival.

Walking through the demesne today offers a poignant glimpse into Ireland’s complex social history. The estate’s decline mirrors that of many Anglo-Irish properties following the Land War of the 1880s and the subsequent break-up of large estates. Nature has slowly reclaimed much of the formal landscape; ancient trees now grow through what were once manicured lawns, and ivy cloaks the stone walls. Despite its ruined state, the site remains an evocative place where visitors can contemplate the layers of Irish history, from medieval settlements through colonial plantation to the birth of the modern Irish state.