Known as Carnoneen Castle, this structure appears in historical records as early as 1574, when it was listed as ‘Qworanonyn’ castle under the ownership of one Thomas Balve. By the early 20th century, the castle had fallen into considerable disrepair; the Ordnance Survey map of 1934 marked it as an unroofed rectangular structure measuring roughly 10 metres by 5 metres, positioned just west southwest of the local Roman Catholic church.

Historical accounts paint a rather unglamorous picture of the castle in its final years. The Ordnance Survey Letters from 1927 described it simply as ‘a small castle nearly destroyed’, whilst local historian Nolan offered an even less flattering assessment in 1901, calling it ‘a low, uninteresting ruin without even a loophole’. Despite its humble appearance, the structure retained some impressive features; its walls measured 1.5 metres thick, with one measurable side stretching 7.3 metres. The castle sat on relatively high ground, giving it a strategic vantage point over the surrounding countryside.

Sadly, the castle no longer exists. According to local residents, it was demolished approximately 20 years before 2010 due to safety concerns about its deteriorating condition. Today, no visible traces remain of this once sturdy fortress, though archaeological records suggest a possible souterrain, an underground passage or chamber typical of medieval Irish settlements, may be associated with the site. The castle’s story, preserved in the Archaeological Inventory of County Galway, serves as a reminder of the many small fortifications that once dotted the Irish landscape, most of which have now vanished entirely from view.