This unassuming heap represents all that remains of what local maps once recorded as a castle. The 1838 Ordnance Survey six-inch map shows a small square structure here, roughly 10 metres in length, though today only scattered rubble hints at its former presence.

The site at Tullanaglug offers a glimpse into Ireland’s layered history, where even the smallest defensive structures earned the grand title of ‘castle’. These fortified houses and tower houses dotted the Irish countryside, serving as strongholds for local families during centuries of territorial disputes and clan rivalries. The location itself tells a story; positioned on elevated ground with views across the river valley, it would have provided both defensive advantages and control over the surrounding farmland.

While the physical structure has long since collapsed, its documentation in the Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo ensures this fragment of local history isn’t entirely lost. The inventory, compiled by Ursula Egan and her colleagues, represents years of careful fieldwork cataloguing Ireland’s archaeological heritage, from grand medieval castles to humble stone ruins like this one. For those exploring Sligo’s historical landscape, the Tullanaglug site serves as a reminder that history often lies hidden in plain sight, marked only by weathered stones in quiet fields.