Built sometime in the 15th or 16th century, the structure served as a stronghold for local chieftains during a turbulent period of Irish history. The castle’s strategic position offered commanding views across the surrounding countryside, making it an ideal defensive location whilst also demonstrating the wealth and status of its occupants.

The castle follows the typical Irish tower house design of the period, featuring thick stone walls and narrow windows that provided both security and shelter from Atlantic storms. These tower houses were the preferred residences of Gaelic and Anglo-Norman lords throughout Ireland, combining domestic comfort with military practicality. At Corraun, visitors can still see evidence of multiple floors that once contained living quarters, storage areas, and defensive spaces; the spiral staircase would have connected these levels whilst being designed to favour right-handed defenders descending from above.

Today, the castle ruins offer a glimpse into life in medieval Mayo, when local lords controlled their territories from fortified towers like this one. The structure has weathered centuries of conflict, changing ownership, and eventual abandonment, yet enough remains to appreciate its original purpose and construction. Archaeological evidence suggests the site may have been occupied even before the castle was built, indicating this hilltop has been significant to local communities for many centuries.