The castle site, though now largely in ruins, offers a glimpse into the strategic importance of these isolated Atlantic islands during Ireland’s turbulent medieval period. Built sometime in the late medieval era, the fortification likely served as both a defensive stronghold and a base for controlling maritime trade routes along the western coast.

The castle’s location on Inishroo was no accident; the island’s position made it an ideal watchtower for monitoring sea traffic and potential threats approaching from the Atlantic. Like many Irish tower houses of its era, it would have been home to a local chieftain or lord who controlled the surrounding territory and collected taxes from passing vessels. The structure follows the typical design of Irish castles from this period, with thick stone walls built to withstand both the harsh Atlantic weather and potential siege warfare.

Today, visitors to Inishroo can explore the atmospheric ruins, where crumbling walls and scattered stones hint at the castle’s former grandeur. The site remains relatively undisturbed, offering archaeologists and history enthusiasts an authentic example of medieval Irish fortification. While the castle no longer stands complete, its weathered stones continue to tell the story of Ireland’s complex medieval past, when control of these remote islands meant power over vital sea lanes and fishing grounds.