Built sometime in the 15th or 16th century, this four-storey structure represents the type of fortified residence favoured by Gaelic and Anglo-Norman families during a particularly turbulent period in Irish history. The castle’s strategic position would have offered its inhabitants both defensive advantages and control over the surrounding territory, whilst its solid construction has allowed it to survive relatively intact for over 500 years.

The tower house follows a typical rectangular plan, measuring approximately 12 metres by 9 metres, with walls that are nearly two metres thick at the base. Each floor served a distinct purpose; the ground level likely housed storage and perhaps livestock during times of threat, whilst the upper floors contained the main hall and private chambers for the lord’s family. Notable architectural features include a murder hole above the entrance, narrow defensive windows on the lower levels that gradually give way to larger openings higher up, and the remains of a spiral staircase built into the thickness of the walls. The battlements at roof level, though partially ruined, still show evidence of the wall walk where defenders could patrol and keep watch over the countryside.

According to historical records, Moynoe Castle was associated with the O’Grady clan, one of the prominent Gaelic families of the region, though ownership likely changed hands several times during the castle’s active use. The building appears to have been abandoned by the 18th century, following the social and political upheavals that saw the decline of the old Gaelic order and the tower house as a form of dwelling. Today, whilst the castle remains on private land, its imposing silhouette continues to dominate the local landscape, serving as a tangible link to Clare’s medieval past and the complex society that once flourished in this part of Munster.