Historical records from 1574 place this fortress in the hands of Richard Burke fitz Tho, a member of one of Galway’s most prominent Norman families. The castle met its end not through siege or abandonment, but through deliberate demolition; its stones were blown apart and hauled away to build nearby Moyne.

The site tells a story of medieval Irish castle building and practical recycling. What remains suggests the original structure sat within a rectangular bawn, a defensive courtyard measuring roughly 40 metres long by 25 metres wide, which would have protected both the castle and its inhabitants. Archaeological surveys have also identified traces of an old field system to the northwest and north, hinting at the agricultural life that once surrounded this fortified residence.

Though the castle itself has vanished, its ghostly footprint remains etched in the landscape. The low mound and boulder field serve as reminders of how Ireland’s built heritage has been constantly reshaped over centuries, with one generation’s fortress becoming another’s quarry. The Archaeological Inventory of County Galway, compiled by Olive Alcock, Kathy de hÓra and Paul Gosling in 1999, preserves what little we know of this lost stronghold, ensuring its story isn’t entirely forgotten.