The fortress, built during the height of Gaelic Ireland’s castle construction period, served as both a defensive stronghold and a symbol of local power. Its strategic position on the island allowed its inhabitants to control water routes and monitor approaching threats, whilst the surrounding waters provided a natural moat that enhanced its defensive capabilities.

The castle’s construction features the characteristic thick stone walls and narrow windows typical of Irish tower houses from this era. These structures were designed to withstand sieges and raids, common occurrences during the medieval period when territorial disputes and clan rivalries frequently erupted into violence. The interior would have housed multiple floors connected by a spiral staircase, with the ground level typically used for storage, middle floors for living quarters, and the top floor reserved for the lord’s chambers and defensive positions.

Today, the castle stands as a weathered monument to Ireland’s medieval past, its stones bearing the marks of centuries of Atlantic storms and historical upheavals. While much of the original structure has succumbed to time and the elements, what remains offers visitors a tangible connection to the lives of those who once called this fortress home; from the chieftains who commanded from its battlements to the servants who maintained its daily operations. The site continues to draw history enthusiasts and curious travellers seeking to understand how these isolated strongholds shaped the social and political landscape of medieval Galway.