This tower house, likely built during the late medieval period, represents the type of fortified dwelling that once dotted the Irish countryside when local chieftains and Anglo-Norman families needed defendable homes. Though now largely forgotten and overshadowed by grander castles elsewhere in Ireland, Cloongee offers visitors a genuine glimpse into how minor nobility lived during centuries of clan warfare and colonial tension.

The castle’s simple rectangular design follows the typical pattern of Irish tower houses; thick stone walls, narrow windows, and multiple floors that once provided both security and domestic comfort. Archaeological evidence suggests it may have been associated with the Burke family, who held considerable sway in Mayo during the medieval period, though local tradition sometimes links it to other prominent Gaelic families of the region. Like many such structures, it likely featured a hall for entertaining, private chambers above, and defensive features including murder holes and battlements that have since crumbled away.

Today, Cloongee Castle stands roofless and partially ruined, its ivy-covered walls slowly being reclaimed by the surrounding farmland. Despite its deteriorated state, the structure retains enough of its original form to reward those who seek it out; the spiral staircase remnants, the outline of former fireplaces, and the commanding views across the Mayo countryside all hint at its former importance. For history enthusiasts willing to venture off the beaten path, this overlooked tower house provides an authentic, unvarnished encounter with Ireland’s medieval heritage, free from tourist crowds and interpretation panels.