This small tower house, likely built in the late 15th or early 16th century, represents the type of fortified dwelling that once dotted the Irish landscape when local lords needed both comfortable homes and defensive strongholds. According to research by Risteárd Ua Cróinín and Martin Breen, the castle follows the typical tower house design of its era, with thick limestone walls, narrow windows, and a rectangular footprint that maximised both living space and defensive capability.

The castle’s history remains somewhat obscure, though it likely belonged to one of the local Gaelic or Anglo-Norman families who controlled this part of Clare during the turbulent centuries following the Norman invasion. Like many Irish tower houses, Ballynabinnia would have served multiple purposes; it was simultaneously a family residence, a symbol of authority, and a refuge during the frequent raids and conflicts that characterised medieval Ireland. The structure originally stood several storeys high, with the ground floor typically used for storage, the first floor serving as the main hall for receiving guests and conducting business, and the upper floors providing private chambers for the family.

Today, the castle stands partially ruined but still impressive, its remaining walls offering glimpses into the defensive architecture of medieval Ireland. The proximity to St Joseph’s Church creates an interesting juxtaposition of religious and military architecture spanning several centuries of Irish history. While the castle no longer serves its original defensive purpose, it continues to mark the landscape as a tangible link to Clare’s medieval past, when such towers served as both homes and fortresses for the families who shaped the county’s early history.