What remains today are fragmentary ivy-clad ruins perched on a slight rise; the southeast corner tower still reaches to first-floor level, whilst the rest has collapsed into a rubble mound measuring roughly 7.2 metres north to south and 4.5 metres east to west. A small ground-floor window pierces the southern wall, with stone corbels visible above on both the eastern and southern faces, suggesting the tower once supported upper floors or perhaps a wooden gallery.

Historical records from 1574 identify this as the castle of MacTybbot Burke, when it was known as Castlecally. The Burke family were Norman-Irish lords who held considerable power in Mayo during the medieval period, and this modest tower house would have served as one of many defensive strongholds dotting the lakes and countryside of Connacht. The isolated island location offered natural protection, whilst the tower provided both a watchtower over Lough Carra and a secure residence for the local Burke chieftain and his household.

Today, the ruins stand as a quiet testament to the complex web of clan territories that once divided County Mayo. The local name “Castle of the Hag” hints at folk tales that have likely grown around the ruins over the centuries, though the exact origin of this evocative moniker remains unclear. For those willing to boat out to the island, the castle offers a tangible connection to the Gaelic and Norman heritage that shaped this corner of Ireland.