This tower house, likely built in the 16th century, was once home to a branch of the Burke family, one of the most powerful Anglo-Norman dynasties in Connacht. The Burkes had arrived in Ireland following the Norman invasion and gradually established themselves as major landowners across Mayo, adapting to Gaelic customs whilst maintaining their Norman heritage.

The castle itself is a typical example of a late medieval Irish tower house; a fortified residence that combined defensive features with domestic comfort. These structures were built throughout Ireland between the 14th and 17th centuries by both Gaelic and Anglo-Norman families who needed secure homes during an era of constant territorial disputes. Enaghmore Castle would have originally stood several storeys high, with thick walls, narrow windows, and murder holes above the entrance to deter unwanted visitors. The ground floor typically served as storage, whilst the upper floors contained the main hall and private chambers for the lord’s family.

Today, only fragments of the castle remain, with portions of the walls still reaching skyward amongst the Mayo countryside. The structure fell into ruin following the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in the 1650s, when many Catholic landowners, including the Burkes, lost their estates. Local folklore suggests that hidden treasure lies buried somewhere near the castle ruins, though numerous searches over the centuries have yielded nothing but stone and soil. The site now serves as a quiet monument to a time when tower houses dotted the Irish landscape, each one a symbol of local power and a refuge in uncertain times.