Kanturk Castle combines a number of different architectural styles, making it difficult to pinpoint a specific date for its construction. However, it was normal for a major work such as this to span several years, and the date of completion/suspension of work was probably close to 1618.

It was a tudor style mansion, four storeys high and 28 metres in length. Each tower has five storeys and rose to a height of 29 metres. It was constructed in limestone from the quarry to the north of the castle.