Built around 1620, this rectangular stronghold represents the transitional period in Irish architecture when the traditional tower houses of medieval times were giving way to more comfortable, yet still defensible, manor houses. The castle’s bawn walls, which once enclosed a protective courtyard, would have sheltered livestock and provided a last line of defence during the turbulent plantation era.

The structure showcases typical defensive features of its time, including gun loops, narrow windows on the lower levels, and thick limestone walls that have weathered four centuries of Irish winters. What makes Doonfore particularly interesting is its relatively intact state; visitors can still observe the original fireplaces, window seats, and the spiral staircase that connects its three storeys. The castle was likely built by a planter family seeking to establish themselves in this part of Connacht, though local tradition suggests it may have been constructed on the site of an earlier Gaelic stronghold.

Today, Doonfore Bawn Castle remains privately owned but can be viewed from the public road. Its isolated rural setting, surrounded by the rolling farmland of north Sligo, offers a glimpse into the realities of 17th century life in Ireland, when comfort and security were carefully balanced in these hybrid fortress homes. The castle serves as a tangible reminder of the complex history of land ownership and cultural change that shaped modern Ireland.