This rectangular tower house, measuring 8 metres north to south and 9.6 metres east to west, has been designated as a national monument and is now under state care. Though only two storeys of the structure remain today, the castle’s sturdy construction and strategic positioning speak to its former importance as a defensive stronghold in this remote corner of western Ireland.

Visitors entering through the rebuilt ground floor doorway on the eastern wall find themselves in a small lobby that reveals the castle’s practical medieval layout. To the south lies what was once the guard room, whilst the main chamber occupies the western portion of the building. A doorway to the north leads to a spiral staircase, a common feature in Irish tower houses that allowed defenders to hold the advantage against attackers ascending the narrow steps. The main chamber itself contains three deep embrasures with narrow windows, designed to provide both light and defensive positions for archers whilst minimising the structure’s vulnerability to attack.

Unfortunately, little remains of the first floor, leaving much of the castle’s upper levels to the imagination. What survives, however, offers valuable insights into the lives of those who once called this fortress home. The thick walls and careful positioning demonstrate the constant threat of conflict that shaped life in medieval Ireland, whilst the internal layout reveals how these structures served as both defensive fortifications and family residences. Today, Caherduff Castle stands as a testament to the turbulent history of County Mayo and the enduring legacy of Ireland’s tower house tradition.