Built sometime in the late medieval period, this rectangular stone fortress served as the stronghold of local Gaelic families who controlled this part of Clare. The castle’s simple yet sturdy construction follows the typical pattern of Irish tower houses from the 15th and 16th centuries, with thick limestone walls designed to withstand both siege and the harsh Atlantic weather that sweeps across the western counties.

The tower rises four storeys high, though time and neglect have taken their toll on the upper portions of the structure. Each floor would have served a different purpose in the castle’s heyday; the ground level likely housed storage and livestock, whilst the upper chambers provided living quarters for the lord’s family and their retainers. Arrow slits and narrow windows puncture the walls at strategic points, offering both defence and limited natural light to the dark interior spaces. The main entrance, elevated above ground level for security, would have been accessed by a wooden ladder or stairs that could be removed during times of conflict.

Today, Magowna Castle remains largely forgotten except by local historians and the cattle that graze in its shadow. The surrounding landscape of Caherbannagh preserves traces of the medieval settlement that once flourished here, including field boundaries and the remains of smaller structures that would have supported the castle’s economy. According to research by Risteárd Ua Cróinín and Martin Breen in their comprehensive survey of Clare’s castles and tower houses, Magowna represents one of dozens of similar fortifications scattered across the county, each marking the seat of power for families who shaped the political and social landscape of medieval Ireland.