The 1948 Ordnance Survey six-inch map marks this spot with the tantalising notation ‘Castle (Site of)’, suggesting that a fortification once stood on the eastern half of this tiny landmass. Part of what’s known as the Priests Islands in County Galway, this islet holds secrets that have been all but erased by time.

When archaeologists surveyed the island, they found frustratingly little evidence of the castle that once commanded this strategic position on the lough. The entire island was thoroughly examined, but centuries of weather, vegetation growth, and possibly stone robbing have left no visible traces of the medieval structure above ground. What remains are scattered piles of unmortared limestone rocks on the eastern side; these appear to be field clearance stones rather than castle ruins, likely gathered by farmers who used the island for grazing or cultivation in more recent centuries.

The mystery of this vanished castle speaks to a broader pattern across Ireland’s lakelands, where numerous small fortifications once controlled water routes and protected religious settlements. Without excavation, we can only speculate about who built this castle, when it fell into ruin, or what role it played in the complex medieval politics of the region. The Priests Islands name itself suggests an ecclesiastical connection, perhaps indicating the castle served to protect or control nearby monastic lands.