Built in 1611 by the O’Farrell family, this fortified house replaced an earlier medieval castle on the site, marking the transition from purely defensive structures to more comfortable residences that still retained military features. The castle’s distinctive architecture combines elements of a traditional tower house with newer Renaissance influences, including large mullioned windows and ornate chimneys that would have been quite fashionable for the early 17th century.

The castle’s history reflects the turbulent nature of Irish landownership during the plantation era. After passing through several prominent families, including the Cuffe and Pakenham families, Longford Castle became the seat of the Barons of Longford. The building underwent significant alterations in the 18th century when Georgian improvements were added, including a formal entrance hall and drawing rooms more suited to entertaining than defence. These modifications created an intriguing architectural timeline; visitors can trace the evolution from medieval fortress to Jacobean manor house to Georgian residence all within the same structure.

Today, the castle presents a romantic silhouette against the Galway countryside, though it bears the scars of centuries of Irish weather and political upheaval. The ruins retain impressive features such as the great hall’s stone fireplace, carved with the O’Farrell coat of arms, and remnants of the castle’s defensive bartizans at the corners. Local tradition holds that a network of underground passages once connected the castle to nearby religious sites, though these have long since collapsed. The site serves as a tangible reminder of how Ireland’s landed gentry adapted their homes to changing times whilst attempting to maintain their status and security in an often uncertain political landscape.