According to research by Risteárd Ua Cróinín and Martin Breen in their comprehensive survey of Clare’s castles and tower houses, this fortification represents one of many defensive structures built during an era when local chieftains and Norman settlers vied for control of the region. The castle’s strategic position would have offered its inhabitants both protection and a commanding view of the surrounding countryside, essential advantages in times when raids and territorial disputes were commonplace.

The tower house follows the typical design of its period, featuring thick stone walls and narrow windows that served both defensive and domestic purposes. These structures were essentially fortified homes, combining the needs of daily life with military requirements; living quarters, storage areas, and defensive features all existed within the same compact vertical space. Archaeological evidence suggests that Knockanoura Castle, like many of its contemporaries, would have been surrounded by a bawn, a defensive wall enclosing a courtyard where livestock could be protected during attacks.

Today, the remains of Knockanoura Castle offer visitors a glimpse into Ireland’s complex medieval history. While time and weather have taken their toll on the structure, enough survives to illustrate the ingenuity of medieval builders who created these multi-functional fortifications. The castle forms part of a broader network of tower houses across County Clare, each telling its own story of survival, conflict, and adaptation during one of Ireland’s most fascinating historical periods.