This 16th-century tower house was once home to the Burke family, Norman descendants who had become thoroughly Hibernicised over the centuries. The castle’s unusual name likely derives from a corruption of “Grace Burke”, though local folklore offers several competing theories about its origins.

The tower house follows the typical defensive architecture of its era, with thick limestone walls, narrow windows, and a fortified entrance that once deterred unwelcome visitors. Built during a period when such structures dotted the Irish landscape, it served both as a family residence and a symbol of local authority. The Burkes, like many Anglo-Norman families, had adapted to Gaelic customs whilst maintaining their strategic position between the English Pale and the Gaelic lordships.

Today, visitors can explore the remaining walls and imagine life within this once-bustling stronghold. The castle’s strategic position offered views across the surrounding farmland, allowing its inhabitants to monitor approaching traders, allies, or enemies. Though time and weather have taken their toll, the ruins retain enough of their original structure to reveal the ingenuity of medieval Irish castle builders; from the spiral staircase carved into the walls to the remnants of the great hall where the Burke family would have entertained guests and conducted business.