What remains today are the foundations of a rectangular tower, measuring 11 metres north to south and 5.65 metres east to west internally, with walls that were once 2.5 metres thick. These tower foundations sit roughly halfway along the western side of a triangular bawn, a fortified enclosure that stretches about 70 metres from north to south. The bawn’s eastern and western boundaries follow natural scarps, whilst the southern edge preserves traces of defensive walls and the base of a circular corner tower.

The castle has a turbulent history stretching back to the late 15th century. In 1487, Aedh Roe O’Donnell demolished an earlier castle belonging to the sons of Rory Mac Dermot at this location, known as Baile na hUamha. The Mac Dermots rebuilt their stronghold in 1492, possibly on a slightly different spot within the area, but their troubles were far from over. The Earl of Kildare plundered the castle in 1512, and O’Donnell returned to capture and destroy it once more in 1527. The internal conflicts of the Mac Dermot clan brought further destruction in 1562, when the Sliocht Eoghan faction burned Baile na hUamha whilst fighting their uncle Rory for control of Moylurg.

By the early 17th century, the castle and its lands had passed through various branches of the Mac Dermot family. Descendants of Dermot Ruadh of Tir Tuathail were renting the property, with Cathal Mac Fergainm receiving confirmation of the castle in 1617. However, by 1635 the lands had reverted to Brian Óg Mac Dermot, who served as chief from 1603 to 1636. Today, visitors can explore these evocative ruins and imagine the centuries of conflict and clan politics that played out on this strategic promontory, with another Mac Dermot stronghold, Ballynahoogh Castle, visible about a kilometre to the south southwest.