This tower house belonged to the McClancy clan and gained particular fame when Captain Francisco de Cuellar, a survivor of the Spanish Armada, sought refuge here in 1588. His detailed written account provides a rare glimpse into daily life within these walls during the tumultuous 16th century.

The castle itself is a rectangular masonry structure, measuring internally 7.5 metres north to south and 6.55 metres east to west. Today, only the western and southern walls remain standing, reaching heights of about 9 metres on the south side, with their dressed quoins still visible despite heavy ivy coverage. The building originally comprised at least three storeys, though architectural details have largely been lost to time; only fragments of window openings, a doorway, and a mural passage can still be discerned. A later modification added an internal east-west division at ground floor level, suggesting the castle’s continued use and adaptation over time.

Perhaps the most intriguing surviving feature is a low defensive wall positioned 3.15 metres from the western wall, complete with gun loops facing the shore. According to historical records, Captain de Cuellar himself constructed this fortification during his stay, adding a Spanish military touch to this Irish stronghold. The castle’s strategic position, built on an artificial island with the nearby Rosclogher church just 120 metres to the south, speaks to the McClancys’ control over both the spiritual and defensive landscape of this part of County Leitrim.