Built by the O’Flaherty clan, who controlled much of Connemara and the western shores of Galway during the late medieval period, this small tower house served as both a defensive stronghold and a statement of power in what was then a turbulent frontier region. The castle’s strategic position allowed the O’Flahertys to monitor movements along important routes whilst maintaining their grip on the surrounding territories.

The structure itself is typical of Irish tower houses from this period; a rectangular stone fortress rising several storeys, originally topped with battlements and featuring narrow windows designed for defence rather than comfort. Though now roofless and partially ruined, visitors can still make out the original murder hole above the entrance, the spiral staircase built into the thick walls, and the remains of what would have been the great hall where the castle’s inhabitants gathered. The ground floor, as was common practice, likely served as storage for provisions and perhaps housed livestock during raids, whilst the upper floors contained the living quarters.

Today, Roo Castle sits quietly in the Galway countryside, largely overlooked by tourists heading to more famous sites. Yet for those who seek it out, the castle offers an authentic glimpse into the lives of Gaelic lords who once ruled these lands. The surrounding landscape has changed little since the O’Flahertys’ time; the same rolling fields, stone walls, and distant mountains that they knew still frame this forgotten fortress, making it an evocative spot for anyone interested in Ireland’s complex medieval past.