While no castle walls stand today, the location bears all the hallmarks of a medieval stronghold or manor house. The field reveals a series of undulating earthworks to the north and east that likely mark the foundations of ancient structures, whilst similar features to the south appear to be old quarrying works, though some may have archaeological significance.

Historical records from the 1840s OS Namebook describe the discovery of substantial masonry remains, including what appeared to be a gatehouse that the road once passed through, along with remnants of an old manor house. The Ordnance Survey six-inch maps depicted these as old walls, suggesting they formed part of a bawn wall; a defensive perimeter typical of fortified Irish manor houses. The earthworks scattered across the eastern fields may represent outbuildings or other structures associated with this manor complex.

Another intriguing possibility is that these ruins represent something larger: perhaps a gateway through a medieval town wall, with the surrounding earthworks marking the remains of a deserted settlement. Without excavation, the true nature of Shanspaur remains tantalisingly unclear, but the site clearly held significance in medieval times, whether as a private fortification, a manor house, or part of a larger community that has since vanished into the Tipperary soil.