Sitting boldly on a promontory in the Aughnish Bay is Dunguaire Castle. It is a fantastic sight as one drives along the beautiful Galway Bay near Kinvara. Aughnish Bay is an inlet off of Galway Bay. The O'Hynes Clan built Dunguaire Castle back in 1520. The Clan had control of the area as far back as 662 AD when their ancestor Guaire who was King of Cannought ruled his kingdom from an earthwork fort close to this site.

The castle consists of a 65-foot tower house, so common in Ireland. However this castle is different because it is fortified by a bawn surrounding the courtyard. It also has a smaller tower and other buildings inside the ward. The views of the Irish countryside from the top of the tower are spectacular.

The castle is a very popular tourist site and is open to the public. At night the more adventurous can participate in a medieval banquet in the castle hall.