The castle’s history stretches back to at least 1504, when it was reportedly destroyed by Mac William De Burgo during the turbulent period of Gaelic and Norman power struggles in western Ireland. Despite this early destruction, the structure survived and evolved, eventually becoming the core of what would later transform into something quite different from its original defensive purpose.

The rectangular tower that visitors can see today measures approximately 12.5 metres in length and 9.5 metres in width, and originally stood three or four storeys tall, though it’s now inaccessible to the public. While the modern doorway in the eastern wall likely sits where the original entrance once stood, most of what’s visible today reflects later alterations. Apart from a single two-light flat-headed window on the upper eastern wall, which appears to be original medieval work, the majority of the window openings, the distinctive stepped parapets, and the chimney stacks at roof level all date from the 18th and 19th centuries when the tower was incorporated into a grander mansion house.

This hybrid structure, which combined medieval defensive architecture with Georgian and Victorian residential comforts, survived until around 1940 when the mansion portions were demolished, leaving only the ancient tower core standing in what was once demesne land. The site, marked as ‘Monivea Castle’ on Ordnance Survey maps, serves as a physical reminder of how Irish castles often lived multiple lives; first as fortified strongholds, then as cores of comfortable country houses, and finally as romantic ruins dotting the landscape.