[1] The structure was located in the middle of a substantial stone bridge crossing the River Maine, which marked the southern boundary of territory newly conquered by the FitzGeralds from the MacCarthy Mor dynasty in the early thirteenth century.

The river regularly flooded during heavy rains and became impassable, giving the crossing point at Castle Maine strategic significance.

[5] A year later, in June 1572, Perrot again laid siege to the castle assisted by Maurice Roche, 6th Viscount Fermoy and Donald McCarthy, 1st Earl of Clancare.

The castle was occupied by English soldiers with a standing garrison of twelve men and placed under the command of a Constable, the first of which was John Herbert.

[12] In 1580, during the Second Desmond Rebellion, the castle was visited by William Pelham and reinforced with men and supplies in anticipation of a Spanish attack, which did not materialise.

In 1588, Sir William Herbert petitioned to have the castle demolished on the basis of its cost and insinuating that its Constable, Thomas Spring, was more loyal to the Irish than to England.

By December 1597, Sir Thomas Norris recorded that it was the last remaining castle in Munster outside Cork which had not surrendered to forces loyal to Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone.

[18][19] Oge, who had been loyal to Desmond, subsequently surrendered the castle to the English Lord President of Munster, George Carew, 1st Earl of Totnes, in November 1600.

[24] The castle was held by the Irish Confederates until 1649, when it was surrendered to David Crosbie acting on behalf of Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin.

Constables were permitted to hold two fairs and were granted rights to fisheries on the River Maine and in Castlemaine Harbour as a source of income additional to their salary.