Quin Abbey

Monastir Chuinche

Robert W Widders

Contributors
Junior Vongchankit
Medkao Lokunpai
Mill Satitjindawong
Pim Phunvichardkul
Text copyright 2017 Robert W. Widders
All Right Reserved
 Contents
Quin Abbey ................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Quin Abbeys Structure .............................................................................................................................................................. 4
Nave ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Chancel ................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Tower ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Sacristy ................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Transept .................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Cloisters .................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Kitchen ................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Vault ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Refectory or Chapter Room [20] ............................................................................................................................................ 6
Toilet [22] (upper level).......................................................................................................................................................... 8
Library [25] (upper level) ....................................................................................................................................................... 8
Infirmary [26] (upper level) .................................................................................................................................................... 8
Roof ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 8
Gatehouse [27] ........................................................................................................................................................................ 8
Burials..................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Fact and Fiction ........................................................................................................................................................................ 10
The Franciscans ........................................................................................................................................................................ 10
Chronology ............................................................................................................................................................................... 12
 Published by
Madra Beag Publishing

Quin Abbey
Though commonly called Quin Abbey, the building is actually a friary built upon the remains of a castle constructed in 1280.
The cloisters are in an exceptionally good state of preservation and are one of the best surviving examples of a Franciscan cloister to
be found in Ireland.
The castle was built in 1280 for the Anglo-Norman nobleman De Clare. It commanded the route between Galway and
Limerick and was, by contemporary standards, an impressive fortification. Despite this, the castle was attacked only 6 years later by
the MacNamaras in revenge for the killing of a local chieftain and left, according to one account, a hideous blackened cave.
Its likely that any wooden structures within the castle were burned, but the massive stone walls remained and were
incorporated into the church. The construction of the church commenced around 1330. The church is entered through the nave,
which looks towards the chancel and high altar. To the left of the chancel is the sacristy, which was originally built with a dwelling
for the priest. The cloisters were added in 1402 and the transept, which pierces the east wall of the nave, was built in 1430. The
tower was probably built around this period too.
The friary was dissolved in 1541 during the reformation, and the buildings passed to the OBrien family in 1547. The friary
soon fell into disrepair and then ruin. The friars remained there unofficially, through a series of expulsions and re-occupation, into the
17th and 18th centuries. Father Hogan, the last friar, died in 1820.

Quin Abbeys Structure

Nave
The church was built by adding the wall to the north and incorporating the castle walls to make up the other three sides. This
explains the oddity of a church with 10 foot thick walls. The nave is entered through a Romanesque arched doorway.[1] To the right
is a font.[2] Next to this an opening leads to a spiral staircase which ascends to a tower.[3]
There are corbels and a door opening in the southern end of the nave, indicating an ambulatory (walkway) which would have
been removed when the south wall was pierced to build the transept.
Two side altars sit either side of the main tower opening.[4] A tomb bearing an inscription and carved sword is located in the
north wall under an ogee arch - a shape associated with the second period of the Gothic style in the 14 th century.[5] This tombstone
no doubt replaces an earlier and original tomb. Indeed, considerable architectural detail has been removed throughout the friary: Note
the bare stonework below the window arch to the south of the nave.[6]

Chancel
The high altar sits in a recess cut out of the original castle wall, below a three pointed arched window in the east end of the
chancel.[7] The window tracery is probably a 15th century replacement of earlier work. To the left of the main altar is a tomb
inscribed MACNAMARA OF AYLE D1402.[8] There is a Latin inscription which translates as, here lies Hugh, son of Lawrence,
who was the son of Matthew MacNamara and Couleen MacNamara his wife who caused me to be made. On the south wall opposite
this, a nineteenth century memorial to the Bishop of Killaloe has been placed in a sedilia (originally a seat for the use of
celebrants).[9]
Above the sedilia the remains of some 15th century stucco work are clearly visible. Parts of a crucifixion scene lie below a
sacred heart. Below and to the left is a small figure which may be an angel. Further below and to the right are the hands and arms of
a human figure.

Tower
The chancel and the nave are on different levels with the chancel reserved for clergy, whilst laity remain in the nave. The
tower divides the space between the two parts. On the southern edge of the towers vaulting there are two holes (now blocked) for
bell ropes.
Corbels project from the inside walls of the tower, indicating that there may have been a loft. The tower is not bonded to
the adjacent walls, as it was added on after the building of the main church. To the south is a space that may have been used as a
small chapel. This is the site of the original entrance to the castle.[10]
Quin Abbey: Commons, Ennis, Co. Clare,Ireland
 Sacristy
The sacristy was originally built both as a sacristy and a dwelling for the priest. There are signs of various alterations. The
stonework in the east end reveals an earlier gable. To the west, stairs descend from the dormitory to what would have been a room
above.
A recess in the north wall holds a drain.[12] Two stones are recessed to hold a wooden bar upon which linen/vestments
would hang after being washed.

Transept
The transept was added (circa 1430) under the patronage of Sioda MacNamara whose father finished the building of Bunratty
castle. His son built nearby Knappogue castle which was bought in the 19 th century by the Dunboyne family, whose vault is now in
the north west corner of the cloister. There is a piscina or ambry in the south wall. [13] The gables are each surmounted by a stone
finial which once held a large metal cross. A sketch dated 1681 shows that the transept was still roofed then.

Cloisters

The cloisters form a square shape with a barrel vaulted corridor. Stone corbels protrude from the walls; corbels are generally
associated with floor beams or ceiling supports. In this instance, they were probably used to support centring - temporary hurdles
used in the construction of the arch. The hurdles held up wicker forms to support the arch, which was held in place by limestone
mortar. The centring was then removed. The plaster has deteriorated in places and the imprint of the wicker can be seen; this is
especially clear in the south east corner. [14] The stonework above the corbels shows signs that the walls were raised in height at
some stage. The garden side of the cloister has molded piers on a stone plinth. Four piers have twisted shafts. It might be expected,
given the square shape of the cloister, that the twisted piers would be symmetrically arranged with one on each side facing each other.
Yet oddly, there are two on the west side and one each on the north and south sides. Counting between them reveals a pattern of 5
and 7. The meaning of this is unclear.
In the centre of the cloister is a grassed area, the Garth, [15] which may have been used as a medicinal herb garden.
Buttresses project from the wall of the cloisters into the Garth. They do have a decorative function, but are primarily load bearing,
giving support to the walls

Kitchen
The kitchen has a large fireplace in the north west corner. [16] It is possible that the opposite end of the room was used as a
refectory. Next to the fireplace an opening is linked to a round chamber. [17] This has been thought to be either a well or an oven.
However a drain empties into this space, which makes it unlikely to have been an oven, though its function may have changed.
Another possibility is that it may have been an area used for brewing beer.
The corbels in the wall have led some authorities to suggest that the room had a timber ceiling. This is unlikely - note the
relationship between the height of the window arches and the corbels.
The floor is remarkable for the rows of standing stones, often considered either to be supports for a wooden floor or graves.
However, there is no evidence of burials and the stones are only shallowly embedded in the ground and are too high and uneven for a
raised floor to fit readily with the door and windows. Their real purpose is unclear.
Stairs lead through the original castle wall to the upper floors. [18]

Vault
A large black painted iron door has its function made clear by a carving (above) of St Peter holding a key - the key to the
gates of heaven. Inside is a family vault containing coffins of the Lords [of] Dunboyne. [19]

Refectory or Chapter Room [20]

To the east of the kitchen is a long room which has two entrance doors, two fireplaces and is divided internally at floor level.
This may have been a chapter room (meeting room) and dayroom. Alternatively, it may have been a refectory where the friars took
their meals.
Transept Cloister

Kitchen Refectory

Dormitory Toilet (Upper Right)

 Dormitory [21] (upper level)
The dormitory may have been sub-divided to make smaller rooms. The windows had wooden shutters (not glass) and stone
hinge brackets for the shutters and recesses for closure bars can be seen in the window surrounds. A short staircase leads to what
would have been the upper floor over the sacristy.
The window opening in the (inside) north west corner is bisected by the interior wall of the library, further evidence that the
upper levels above the cloisters were subject to various structural alterations.

Toilet [22] (upper level)

The toilet was built as a separate tower to the north of the dormitory and linked to it by a connecting passage. The toilet
drains into the nearby river Rine. There is also a door in the lower part for access to remove waste, which was used as compost on the
surrounding fields.
There is a good view from here of the best preserved corner tower of the castle, [23] plus a section of the castle wall, [24]
both now much lower than when originally built.

Library [25] (upper level)

There is a window seat in the west end. Next to this, a spiral stair (now blocked) continues up to the roof level. The library
was used to keep manuscripts and writing materials and was a room for reading and study.

Infirmary [26] (upper level)

The Franciscans had grown very popular for their work caring for the sick, including even lepers, who were shunned in
medieval society.
An opening leads from the south end to the (site of) the ambulatory in the nave. The windows in the interior wall are of
interest with each one of the three being stylistically different.

Roof
The roof is (was) accessed from stairs next to the library and also from a spiral stair in the nave. Substantial stone steps cross
both gables of the church, and a walkway leads along the inner wall of the dormitory to the stair which ascends inside the tower. The
roof was originally covered with slates.

Gatehouse [27]
A gable end is all that is left of a guesthouse or gatehouse. The remains of a fireplace can be seen on the northern side of the
gable.

Burials
The friary, as a burial ground, is now closed by order of the Ministry of the Environment. The only interments still (to be)
allowed are those listed because of a connection to someone already buried there. When the site was a functioning friary, the only
burials would have been high status ones within the church. After the dissolution of Quin Friary in 1541, the buildings gradually
deteriorated and eventually the whole site became used as a graveyard from the 17 th century onwards. Many of the burials date from
the 18th and 19th centuries. The latest is from 2006.
The grave of Fireball MacNamara is marked by a Celtic cross in the transept. [28] He was the last of the MacNamara
chieftains and directly descended from the founders of the friary. Though a protestant himself, he was sympathetic to catholicism. He
was a well known duellist and his duelling pistols, nicknamed bas gan sagart (death without a priest) are reputed to have been buried
with him.
A short coffin shaped stone located in the entrance to the transept bears an inscribed long axe. [29] There are numerous
colourful legends about this tomb, known locally as the grave of the axe man. The more credible of these is that it is the grave of a
mason killed falling from the wall of the transept during its construction. With any writing long erased, its origin remains a matter of
conjecture, however its shape and size make it likely to be considerably older than most of the stones around it.
The grave of Father Hogan lies in the north east corner of the cloister. [30] He died in 1820 and was the last Franciscan friar
here.
Much detail has been lost from the oldest stones due to wear and tear. One of these (located under the tower) is inscribed
Captain John MacNamara 1601, though this is barely legible. [31]
Cloister

Corner Tower of the castle

 Fact and Fiction
Tradition has it that a MacNamara chieftains son was in danger of drowning whilst swimming in a lake. The father seeing
this swore to God that he would found an abbey if his son was spared. Hence the founding of the friary at Quin.
Reputedly a tunnel links the friary with the nearby church of St Finghin. But there is no sign inside the friary of any tunnel
entrance. Also, as it would have to pass under the river Rine, a tunnel seems most unlikely.
Each evening some friars went to a (river) ford nearby and lit a beacon to guide travellers. This place became known as
Ardsolus (high light); credible story that is commemorated in the name of a restaurant near the friary, called the Ardsolus Restaurant.
The Franciscan order instigated an inquiry in 1616 for the missing gold and silver. At this time there were just a few very
elderly friars living in the ruins. They reported that the gold altar plate had long ago been given to one of the MacNamara clan at
Knappogue - his widow denied this. There really was such an official inquiry in 1616, however the gold and silver plate remains
missing.

The Franciscans
A religious order founded circa 1208 by Giovanni Bernadone, an Italian soldier who was moved by the strength of a bible
reading to take a small band of followers to lead a life of itinerant preaching and voluntary poverty. He adopted the name Brother
Frenchy - or Francis - as we know him.
Monks live in a monastic order and seek God in seclusion, looking inwards within their own specific community (abbey).
The Franciscans friars by contrast, belonged to their wider order but, were not restricted to a specific monastic dwelling. In a spiritual
sense they looked outwards, and went out of their community to preach the gospel.
After the death of St Francis, the high ideals of the order became diluted, especially with regard to property. A papal bull
decreed that the friars could have whatever possessions they needed, by an expedient where the friars used them whilst the papacy
owned them. Some within the order rejected this and the movement split into the Conventuals and the Spirituals.
The word friar comes from the Latin frater or brother. Friars were mendicants. The word mendicant also has Latin roots;
mendicare (to beg) referring to their lack of property and dependence on alms (charity). The Franciscans were sometimes referred to
as the Greyfriars - a reference to the grey habit they wore.
Tower
 Chronology
1280 Castle built
1286 Castle attacked and left a (substantial) ruin
1330 (circa) Church and sacristy built
1402 Cloisters - building commenced
1430 Bell tower and transept built
1433 Observance - The revival of the pure Franciscan movement
1541 Suppression of the friary during the reformation
1547 Ownership of the buildings passes to the OBriens
1580 Used as a garrison. Attacked and abandoned soon after
1641 Used as a college
1651 Friars evicted by Cromwellian forces
1667 - 1760 Used intermittently as a friary
1760 From this date onwards the friars resided in Drim
1820 The last friar, Father Hogan died
1880 Taken into the care of the Board of Public Works as a monument

AMBRY cupboard in the wall of a church used to store sacred vessels

BUTTRESS projecting masonry supporting a wall
CELEBRANT priest officiating at mass
CHANCEL east end of a church
CORBEL projecting stone in a wall; structural support for ceilings - sometimes used to support building work
FINIAL ornament at the apex of a gable or high point on a building
IHS first three letters of the name Jesus in Greek; Christian emblem on gravestones
NAVE main part of a church from the west entrance to the chancel
OGEE ARCH arch formed from reverse curves
REFECTORY dining room
SACRISTY room where sacred vessels / vestments are kept and where the priest attires
SEDILIA seat on the south wall of a chancel used by celebrants during mass
TRANSEPT north and south arms of a cruciform shaped church
Labelling
1. Romanesque arched doorway 15. Garth
2. Font 16. North West Corner
3. Tower 17. Round Chamber
4. Tower opening 18. Upper Floor
5. A tomb 19. Vault containing coffins of the Lords Dunboyne
6. Bare stonework 20. Refectory or Chapter Room
7. Chancel 21. Dormitory
8. Tomb (MACNAMARA OF AYLE D1402) 22. Toilet
9. Sedilia 23. Corner Tower of the castle
10. Entrance of the castle 24. Castle Wall
11. Entrance 25. Library
12. Drain 26. Infirmary
13. South Wall 27. Gatehouse
14. South East Corner

(-) = Upper Floor

 Copyright 2007, 2017
MADRA BEAG Publishing

Limerick, Ireland

Quinn Abbey was taken into the care of the Board of Public Works in 1880. It is currently cared for as a national monument
by the Boards successor, the Office of Public Works (OPW). The OPW is a government agency and its work is centrally funded
through taxation.

The friary is generally open to the public each year between early May and late September.

This book is published by Madra Beag Publishing

Madra Beag is not part of the OPW.