The Macdermots of Ballycloran centers on the tragic decline of a Catholic Irish family struggling against the encroaching pressures of poverty, legal injustice, and social upheaval in the 1830s. Thady Macdermot, the protagonist, attempts to preserve his family's estate and honor while navigating a landscape defined by sectarian tension and economic instability. He faces opposition from both the rigid colonial legal system and the internal failings of his own kin, which ultimately lead to a series of irreversible catastrophes. The narrative employs a traditional third-person perspective to examine the intersection of personal morality and systemic societal collapse.

Readers frequently highlight the stark realism and somber tone that distinguish this work from Trollope's later, more lighthearted social satires. Discussion often centers on the author's early ability to capture the complexities of Irish life and the tragic inevitability of the Macdermot family's downfall. Critics note that the inclusion of the suppressed chapters offers a more complete view of the author's original intent and narrative structure. Many readers appreciate the historical accuracy regarding the tensions that defined the period, though some find the pacing to be slower than contemporary fiction. The book remains a significant point of interest for those studying the evolution of Trollope's craft and the literary representation of 19th-century Ireland.