The ruins you see today are those of a 17th-century gabled house, but they probably occupy the same spot where an earlier castle once stood. Historical records from 1574 mention a castle at this location, which was then owned by Domynick Lynch, though no trace of that original medieval structure survives above ground.

The Lynch family were prominent merchants in medieval Galway, and Domynick Lynch’s possession of this strategic riverside location would have been significant for controlling river traffic and the nearby crossing point. The replacement of the earlier castle with a more comfortable gabled house during the 17th century reflects the changing times, when fortified strongholds gave way to more domestic architecture as the region became more settled.

Today, what remains of Terryland Castle offers a glimpse into centuries of Irish history; from medieval fortifications to early modern manor houses. The site’s position along the River Corrib continues to mark it as an important historical location, even as the surrounding landscape has transformed dramatically since the days when the Lynches held sway over this stretch of river.