This rectangular hall-castle, measuring roughly 21.5 metres by 7.38 metres internally, served as a stronghold for the O’Rourke clan from its construction until the 17th century. The dating of the structure remains somewhat uncertain; it may have been built as early as 1221 by William Gorm de Lacy, who had promised to construct three stone castles in Breifne for Philip de Angulo. Alternatively, the O’Rourkes themselves might have erected it after reclaiming control of western Breifne following their victory at the Battle of Magh Sleacht in 1256, when they shifted their power base into the remote reaches of north Leitrim.

The surviving limestone walls, standing five to six metres high and up to two metres thick, tell a story of both grandeur and strategic importance. Historical illustrations by Grose reveal that each of the long walls once featured four round-headed window embrasures, though these have since been robbed out. The original entrance appears to have been a doorway at the southern end of the northwest wall, accessed via an unexcavated rock shelf, whilst a second doorway with interior steps at the eastern end may be a later addition. Recent analysis of the punch dressing on some stonework suggests the castle might actually date to the fifteenth or sixteenth century, though this could simply indicate later repairs rather than original construction.

Despite its isolated position offering natural defences, the castle wasn’t impregnable. Sir Richard Bingham, Governor of Connaught, reportedly managed to launch a successful surprise attack on Dromahaire in 1588. Today, the ivy-covered ruins stand as a testament to centuries of Irish clan warfare and political upheaval, with the nearby Villiers fortified house just 60 metres to the north serving as another reminder of the area’s turbulent past. The stone for the castle was likely quarried from immediately adjacent sites to the southeast and northwest, demonstrating the practical use of local resources in medieval Irish construction.