Located in the townland of Moanbaun in County Galway, this tower house likely dates from the 15th or 16th century, a period when such fortified residences were being built across Ireland by both Gaelic and Anglo-Norman families. The castle’s name derives from the Irish ‘Móin Bán’, meaning ‘white bog’, which gives us a hint about the landscape that once surrounded this defensive structure.

The castle itself is a typical example of an Irish tower house, built with thick limestone walls that would have provided both defence and insulation for its inhabitants. These compact fortifications served as both home and stronghold for minor nobility and wealthy merchants, offering protection during the frequent raids and territorial disputes that characterised medieval Ireland. While the specific family who built Moanbaun Castle remains uncertain, it was likely associated with one of the prominent Galway tribes or perhaps a lesser branch of the Burke family, who held considerable power in the region during this period.

Today, Moanbaun Castle stands partially ruined but still impressive, its weathered stones bearing witness to centuries of Irish history. The structure retains much of its original form, including portions of the barrel vaults that once separated its floors, and visitors can still make out features like narrow window loops and the remnants of a spiral staircase. Though it lacks the grand scale of more famous Irish castles, Moanbaun offers an authentic glimpse into the lives of medieval Ireland’s minor gentry; those who occupied the middle ground between peasantry and high nobility in a complex and often turbulent society.