What remains today is modest; just the lower courses of a stone wall stretching about nine metres, barely visible amongst the field system known as GA045-009002. The castle’s poor state of preservation means that visitors will find little to see above ground, yet these weathered foundations mark where a fortification once stood, likely built during the medieval period when such structures dotted the Irish landscape.

The castle takes its name from the townland of Cloonoran, and whilst historical records about the structure remain scarce, its presence speaks to the strategic importance of this area of north Galway. Like many Irish castles of its era, it would have served multiple purposes: a defensive stronghold, a symbol of authority, and a centre for local administration. The surrounding field system suggests that the castle was part of a working agricultural landscape, with the fortification protecting both the landowner’s interests and the local population during times of conflict.

Archaeological surveys conducted in the late 20th century, particularly those documented in the Archaeological Inventory of County Galway, have helped preserve knowledge of this site even as its physical remains continue to deteriorate. Though Cloonoran Castle may lack the imposing towers and battlements of better preserved Irish castles, its foundations serve as an important reminder of how extensively fortified the Irish countryside once was, with castles and tower houses marking territorial boundaries and providing refuge during centuries of political upheaval.