This is a fine example of a 16th century fortified tower which is surrounded by bawn walls and round turrets, some of which are still somewhat intact. The main tower was built by one of the O'Donoghue Ross choeftain and was held by Lord Muskerry and the Royalists in the Cromwellian Wars.

Legend of the castle says that the castle would never be taken except for an attack from the water by a Man of War. A man by the name of Ludlow, the Cromwellian commander, had a large boat transported overland and launched in the lake and when the defenders saw this they knew that the prophecy had been fulfilled and they abandoned the castle immediately.