This weathered stone fragment, measuring 1.7 metres long, 1.3 metres wide and 1.9 metres high, has been incorporated into a field wall; a rather humble end for what may have been part of a significant medieval structure. The castle once stood just west of Claretuam Bridge, an old crossing point on a tributary of the Clare River, marking this spot as historically important for local travel and trade.

Historical records confirm the castle’s existence by 1574, when it was owned by one Redmund McMoyler McRic. The site appears to have been part of a larger medieval settlement, possibly including a small cluster of houses that has long since vanished. When Ordnance Survey officials visited the area in the 19th century, they noted that locals could still point out “a small fragment of this castle” within a garden, suggesting the structure’s gradual deterioration over the centuries rather than any sudden destruction.

The castle’s location wasn’t isolated; archaeological evidence indicates a church stood just 160 metres to the northwest, painting a picture of a small but complete medieval community. Today, visitors to this quiet corner of North Galway might easily pass by without noticing this modest chunk of masonry, unaware they’re looking at a tangible link to Ireland’s medieval past and the forgotten settlement that once thrived here.