The structure, measuring 9 metres east to west and 6.8 metres north to south, dates from the medieval period and likely served as accommodation or defensive quarters connected to the priory. As a National Monument under State Guardianship, it represents an important piece of Cork’s architectural heritage.

The tower’s construction reveals typical medieval building techniques, with its entrance through a three-centred arch doorway on the western wall. Inside, the ground floor chamber spans 4.8 metres north to south and 3.3 metres east to west, illuminated by narrow slit windows strategically placed in each wall. These windows, set in splayed embrasures, would have provided both light and defensive capabilities. Above the ground floor, a wicker-centred vault runs north to south, though part of it has collapsed at the southern end. The presence of a garderobe chute exiting at the northern end of the eastern wall shows that upper floors once existed, providing basic sanitation for the tower’s inhabitants.

Archaeological evidence suggests the tower was once part of a larger complex. Projecting masonry on both the eastern and western walls indicates that additional structures once extended from the tower in both directions, possibly connecting it more directly to the priory or creating an enclosed courtyard. These remnants, along with the tower’s proximity to the Augustinian Priory, paint a picture of a once-thriving religious community that would have been a focal point of medieval life in north Cork.