In 1601, the castle served as the residence of Hugh Carrogh McLaughlin, a local chieftain whose family had likely held the lands for generations. Their tenure came to an abrupt end during the 1608 rebellion, when English forces captured the stronghold as part of their campaign to suppress Irish resistance in Ulster.

Following its capture, the castle’s ownership tells the story of the Plantation of Ulster. The Crown granted the property to Arthur Chichester, Lord Deputy of Ireland, who subsequently leased it to Sir Richard Hansard and later to Sir George Carey. These English settlers were part of the systematic colonisation effort that transformed the social and political landscape of Ulster in the early 17th century. By 1665, however, the castle had likely fallen into ruin, its military significance diminished in a changing Ireland.

Today, nothing remains of Red Castle; it was completely demolished well over 150 years ago. The site at Carrickmaquigley now holds only the memory of this once strategic fortification, recorded in archaeological surveys and historical documents. Its story, from Irish stronghold to English possession to eventual abandonment, mirrors the fate of countless castles across Donegal and Ulster, silent witnesses to centuries of conquest, rebellion, and transformation.