The structure likely dates from the 15th or 16th century, when tower houses were the preferred defensive residences of Gaelic and Anglo-Norman families throughout Ireland. These fortified homes served dual purposes; they provided protection during the turbulent centuries of clan warfare whilst also displaying the wealth and status of their owners.

The castle’s architecture follows the typical tower house design found across Clare and the wider region. Built from local limestone, it would have originally stood several storeys high with thick walls designed to withstand siege warfare. The ground floor typically served as storage, with living quarters on the upper floors accessed by a spiral staircase built into the walls. Windows would have been small and defensive on lower levels, becoming larger and more decorative as they rose, reflecting the balance between security and comfort that these buildings needed to strike.

Today, the castle stands as a silent witness to centuries of Irish history, from medieval clan conflicts through the Cromwellian conquest and into the modern era. Its location in Shingaunagh South places it within the rich historical landscape of County Clare, an area that saw significant activity during various periods of Irish history, including the Wars of the Three Kingdoms and the subsequent Williamite Wars. Like many such structures across Ireland, it serves as a tangible link to the complex social and political networks that once dominated the Irish countryside.