The Irish landscape is so full of medieval ruined towers and castles that most people never take notice of them or give much thought to the role they once played in Irish life.
However, not so in the case of Loughrea-based vet and businessman, Michael Burke, who 25 years ago became the proud owner of one such ruined building, Cloghan Castle, located just outside the village of Kilchreest, on the road between Loughrea and Gort.
It was a "heap of stones" when he bought it, according to Michael. Those stones had once been a Norman tower originally built in the 13th century and last inhabited in the 15th century by Hugh de Burgo, son of Walter de Burgo, Earl of Ulster.
Michael and his wife Mary have restored Cloghan Castle, sourcing all the crafts people and necessary materials locally and ensuring that both the materials and techniques used were historically accurate.
Recently, they decided to add a 6,000 sq ft extension, in keeping with the original structure and using natural stone, predominantly granite, to create walls which are 6 ft deep.
Michael Burke didn't anticipate that restoring it would consume such a great deal of time and money, but he is a businessman - founder and owner of Chanelle veterinary wholesalers in Loughrea, which had an estimated turnover of £14 million last year - and so he adopted a businesslike approach.
The castle is now a commercial operation and is available for rent for £3,500 a week. With seven double bedrooms and plenty of living space, it is aimed chiefly at corporate clients and groups.
Some of the bedrooms are located in the original tower and can be reached by climbing its 90-step spiral stairway, although a more conventional stairway, part of the extension, links in with the old tower for less adventurous guests.
Downstairs, there's a large banqueting room which seats 120, dominated by an enormous fireplace, while the upper floor has a less formal drawing room with another enormous fireplace. The castle's kitchen is off the main banqueting area and, despite the old-fashioned atmosphere, it's a modern functional room.
Michael Burke is delighted with the work done at Cloghan and very proud that all the craftsmen and workers came from Galway.
Meanwhile, restoring old buildings has become a passion with him and he has undertaken two more projects - a 14th-century castle outside Craughwell as well as a 17th century farm cottage, both in ruins.
More information on Cloghan Castle at (091) 841788.