A fortified abbey with an eclectic history

Quin Abbey started life out as a church. This was attacked and burnt in 1278 by members of the O’Brien clan. It was then transformed into a Norman castle in 1280 by Thomas de Clare. Its enormous foundations can still be seen at the corner towers before being converted back into a church in 1350. The Macnamaras then took over the church and used it as their home. It then became a Franciscan abbey before it was confiscated just after The Reformation. It then passed into the hands of Conor O’Brien in 1543 however the MacNamara regained control of it again in 1590! In 1640 it then became a college with 800 students. In 1650 Cromwell arrived and murdered the monks and destroyed the abbey. In 1671 it was restored yet again as an abbey but never regained its former status. In 1760 the last monks were expelled and the last Friar, John Hogan, remained until his death in 1820. Although mostly roofless, the structure is relatively well-preserved and still retains many interesting architectural features.