Built sometime in the 16th century, this fortified tower house once commanded strategic views across Ireland’s second largest lake, serving as both a defensive stronghold and a statement of power in the tumultuous landscape of Gaelic Ireland.

The castle’s history is intrinsically linked to the O’Flaherty clan, who ruled much of Connemara and the western shores of Lough Corrib for centuries. Local tradition holds that the castle played a role in the numerous territorial disputes that characterised the region during the medieval period, when control of the lough’s waters meant control of vital trade and transport routes. The structure followed the typical design of Irish tower houses of the period; a rectangular stone keep with thick walls, narrow windows, and multiple floors connected by a spiral staircase tucked within the walls for defensive purposes.

Today, visitors to Aille will find only fragments of the castle’s former glory, with partial walls and foundations slowly being reclaimed by ivy and brambles. The site remains unfenced and accessible to those willing to navigate the overgrown pathways, though caution is advised as the remaining stonework is unstable. Despite its ruined state, the location still offers spectacular views across Lough Corrib’s island-dotted waters, providing a glimpse into why this spot was chosen for fortification all those centuries ago.