Though no visible traces remain today, this location once held a fortified house that likely dated from the early 17th century; a structure typical of its era when such buildings were commonly referred to as “Courts”. The castle’s history can be traced through various property records, beginning in the 1580s when Moriertagh mac Mortagh O’Sheehy held what was then called Brownescourt or Brownestown, part of the former estate of the dissolved Abbey of Keynsham.

The castle changed hands several times throughout the 17th century, reflecting the turbulent nature of Irish land ownership during this period. In 1615, Maurice Berkeley leased the castle to T. Martin of Ballynash, whilst Peter Maunsell held the property between 1642 and 1652. By 1655, ownership had passed to Mrs. Crofton and Lord Broghill, demonstrating the ongoing transfer of Irish properties to English and Anglo-Irish families during the Cromwellian period.

By 1840, the structure had already fallen into considerable decay, with observers noting that only “one conspicuous gable” remained standing, and even then it didn’t appear particularly ancient. The historian Westropp, writing in the early 20th century, recorded that some fragments of the “Court” were still visible, though these too have since vanished. Today, this hilltop site serves as a reminder of the many smaller fortified houses that once dotted the Irish countryside, structures that played important roles in local history but have largely disappeared from the physical landscape.