The castle was likely built during the medieval period when Anglo-Norman families were establishing their presence throughout Connacht, constructing fortified towers and castles to control strategic locations and protect their newly acquired lands. Ballingarry’s position would have made it an ideal location for monitoring movement through the surrounding countryside whilst providing a defensive stronghold for its inhabitants.

The castle would have served multiple purposes throughout its active life; as a residence for the local lord and their household, a administrative centre for managing the surrounding estates, and a military fortress during times of conflict. Like many Irish castles, it probably witnessed its share of sieges, changes of ownership, and political upheavals, particularly during the turbulent 16th and 17th centuries when Gaelic lords, Old English families, and New English settlers vied for control of Irish lands. The Cromwellian conquest and subsequent Williamite Wars likely sealed the fate of many such fortifications, with castles either being deliberately destroyed or simply abandoned and left to decay.

Today, visitors to the site can still trace the footprint of the original structure, though time and weather have taken their toll on the stonework. The remains offer a tangible connection to Ireland’s complex medieval past, when castles dotted the landscape and served as symbols of power, wealth, and authority. Archaeological surveys of the area continue to reveal details about the castle’s construction and the lives of those who once called it home, adding pieces to the broader puzzle of Galway’s rich historical tapestry.