his unusual sixteenth century tower house takes the form of a cylinder supported by four boldly projecting spurs which are commanded by shotholes ingeniously placed in the apex of pointed notches at the fusion of the cylinder and the spurs. One of these notches, or ghost-gables, lies over the door which is also commanded by one of four machicolations projecting from the parapet.

The tower has five storeys with dome vaults over the ground and third storeys, both of which have well-preserved impressions of wickerwork matting. The hall on the fourth storey has mullioned windows with the spiral stair projecting into the room. The top floor, originally a bed chamber, has now been incorrectly restored as a gallery, presumably so that visitors can admire the new conical oak roof.

The castle was originally built by a sept of the O'Briens and later passed into the hands of the O'Loughlins (O'Lochlainns), the self-styled "Princes of the Burren". It was still inhabited by the family at the end of the nineteenth century, but later fell into ruin.

In 1994 the castle was restored as an exhibition centre for the adjacent Burren Art College.