Tower houses were built during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries as residences by Gaelic and Old English families, and though not castles in the strict sense, retained many similar features such as battlements, machicolations and narrow slit windows.

Carrignamuck is an L-shaped, five-storey tower, which was repaired in 1866 when a slate roof, fireplaces, and wooden front door were inserted.

[3] Smith (1774) describes the 'Castle of Carrignamuck' as inhabited by Mr. Bear, once belonging to the Mac-Carthys, situated on the Muskerry side of the (Dripsey) river, and having a garrison of Oliver Cromwell stationed there for some time.

Gillman (1892) advises that it was known as Carrig na Muc castle, and according to tradition was built by Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, lord of Muskerry 1455-1495.

Regarded as the official residence of the Tanist (heir in succession to Blarney Castle) it had been bombarded in 1650 from nearby Meeshal Hill by Lord Broghill (also Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery), leader of a troop of Cromwellian soldiers.

The slate roof was put in place by the Colthurst family, and by 1944 it had become the property of John O'Shaughnessy, owner of Dripsey Woollen Mills.