In March 1572, during the Marian Civil War, the Laird of Dairsie, who was Provost of St Andrews, invited two English ambassadors Thomas Randolph and William Drury to banquet at the castle.

[3] Patrick Learmonth of Dairsie loaned money to William Kirkcaldy of Grange and held some jewels of Mary, Queen of Scots, as a pledge.

King James VI of Scotland stayed at Dairsie Castle in 1583 following his escape from the Raid of Ruthven in June 1583.

In the 17th century it was sold to John Spottiswoode (1565–1639), Archbishop of St Andrews, who built Dairsie Old Church next to the castle in 1621.

It is a Category B listed building, and was formerly a Scheduled Ancient Monument, having been de-scheduled in 1997 prior to the restoration works.