This tower house, likely built in the late 15th or early 16th century, represents the type of fortified dwelling that once dotted the Irish landscape when local chieftains and minor nobility needed defensible homes. The structure follows the typical pattern of Irish tower houses of the period, with thick limestone walls, narrow windows, and a rectangular plan that prioritised defence over comfort.

The castle’s history is closely tied to the O’Brien clan, who dominated much of County Clare for centuries. Local tradition suggests it may have been built by a branch of the O’Briens or one of their allied families, though documentary evidence from this period is scarce. The tower house would have served multiple purposes; as a residence for the local lord and his family, a stronghold to protect cattle and grain from raiders, and a symbol of authority over the surrounding lands. Its strategic position allowed occupants to monitor movement across the countryside whilst maintaining connections with other O’Brien strongholds in the region.

Today, Freagh Castle remains relatively intact despite centuries of neglect and the elements. The structure rises approximately four storeys, though the upper floors and roof have long since collapsed. Visitors can still observe several architectural features typical of the period, including the remains of a spiral staircase built into the thickness of the wall, murder holes above the entrance, and the corbelled stones that once supported wooden floors. The ground floor, which would have been used for storage and possibly housing cattle during raids, features a barrel vault that has survived remarkably well. Though ivy now claims much of the exterior walls and the interior is open to the sky, the castle continues to offer a tangible connection to Clare’s medieval past.