Quin Friary, County Clare
Photo © Mike Searle, 5 October 2009
Quin Castle Ruins - Photo ©
Simon Huguet, 15 August 2009
Quin Friary, County Clare Photo © Mike Searle, 5 October 2009 |
Quin Castle Ruins - Photo © Simon Huguet, 15 August 2009 |
A castle was built here in 1280 long before the founding of the Franciscan friary by Sioda Cam MacNamara in the 1430's. The castle was destroyed after its capture in a revenge attack in 1288 by Cuvea MacNamara, and in 1350 a church was built within the ruins. This in turn was rebuilt and incorporated into the friary during its construction.
Quin (Cuinche, meaning "Five Ways" in Ancient Irish in reference
to the original five roads out of the village) is a village in southeast County
Clare in Ireland. The village's main attraction, Quin Abbey, is open to the
public, and although mostly ruined, much of the structure remains. The abbey
was built on the foundations of an earlier Norman castle, and the foundations
of its corner towers can still be seen. The River Rine runs through Quin.
The countryside around the village of Quin has many archaeological remains, most notably Franciscan friary. The first building that is known of on this site was a church, and then on the site de Clare built a castle in 1280 A.D. This was attacked and destroyed, the present church was built on the site (c.1350 A.D.), incorporating some parts of the castle ruins. Quin Abbey was founded in 1433 and housed many Franciscan monks until 1820 when the last monk, Father Hogan, died. His Burial Site can be visited in the Abbey.
Quin Abbey was built between 1402 and 1433 by Sioda Cam MacNamara, for Fathers Purcell and Mooney, monks of the Franciscan order, in Quin, County Clare, Ireland. Although mostly roofless, the structure of the abbey is relatively well preserved. There is an intact cloister, and many other surviving architectural features make the abbey of significant historical value.
A far earlier monastery had existed on the site, which burned down in 1278. A Norman castle was built soon after by Thomas de Clare, a military commander. The foundations of the castle's enormous corner towers can still be seen. Around 1350 the castle, by then a ruin, was rebuilt as a church by the McNamara clan. It was this structure which the MacNamaras subsequently rebuilt as the present abbey. In 1541, during the Reformation, King Henry VIII confiscated the abbey and it passed into the hands of Conor O'Brian, Earl of Thomond. In about 1590 the MacNamaras regained control of the abbey and once again set about repairing and restoring it. In about 1640 the building became a college and is alleged to have had 800 students. Sadly Oliver Cromwell arrived only 10 years later, murdering the monks and destroying the abbey. In 1671 the abbey was once again restored, but never regained its former status. Eventually in 1760 the monks were expelled, although the last Friar, John Hogan, remained there until his death in 1820, by which time the buildings were ruined by neglect.
The abbey is roughly 9 miles from Ennis. A visitor centre is located near the abbey and the structure and grounds can be visited free of charge. A caretaker is permanently based at the abbey. Floodlighting has recently been installed which produces a spectacular sight at night. The graveyard surrounding the abbey is still in use.