While little remains of the original structure today, historical records and local tradition paint a picture of what was once likely a tower house, a type of fortified residence common throughout Ireland from the 15th to 17th centuries. These compact stone fortifications served as both defensive strongholds and symbols of authority for the Anglo-Norman and Gaelic families who controlled much of rural Ireland during this period.

The castle’s strategic placement in this part of Galway would have given its inhabitants control over the surrounding agricultural lands and any nearby routes of travel. Like many Irish castles of its era, it probably consisted of a rectangular stone tower rising several storeys, with thick walls designed to withstand siege and a single entrance at ground level that could be easily defended. The upper floors would have contained the living quarters; simple but functional spaces where the lord’s family resided above storage areas and servants’ quarters.

Today, visitors to the site will find only traces of the castle’s foundation and perhaps some scattered stonework, with the landscape having largely reclaimed what was once a symbol of medieval power. The site serves as one of countless archaeological reminders scattered across the Irish countryside, each telling part of the complex story of conquest, resistance, and adaptation that shaped modern Ireland. Local historians and archaeologists continue to piece together the castle’s history through field surveys and documentary research, adding to our understanding of how these fortifications functioned within the broader network of power that once dominated the west of Ireland.