The castle’s history stretches back to at least 1215, when records suggest that Carew built a fortification at ‘Ardtuillighe’. Local tradition holds that stones from a nearby monastery were incorporated into the castle’s construction, linking the site to even older religious foundations in the area.

The castle’s most dramatic period came during the 17th century when Colonel Donough MacFineen held Ardtully. After forfeiting the property, the castle met its end at the hands of Cromwellian forces, who destroyed the structure as part of their campaign through Ireland. Maps from 1846 show four circular towers surrounding Ardtully House, which may have been remnants of this earlier castle, though no visible traces of these towers remain today.

The site underwent its final transformation in 1847 when Sir Richard Orpen built a grand Baronial house where the earlier structures once stood. This Victorian mansion didn’t last long; it was burnt down in 1921 during the Irish War of Independence, leaving only ruins. Today, visitors to the site can see the remains of Orpen’s house, a testament to the layers of history that have accumulated at this single location over eight centuries, from medieval stronghold to Cromwellian casualty to Victorian estate.