Quin Abbey County Clare |
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Quin Abbey, in reality a friary, is in the Irish village of Quin Co. Clare in the west of Ireland about 9 miles from Ennis the market town of Co. Clare. 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. 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. This castle was destroyed in 1286 by the MacNamara clan in revenge for the slaying of a relative, and the remaining thick stone walls were incorporated into a church which was constructed by the MacNamara clan in 1330. Quin ‘Abbey’ was built by the famous Master Mason Gobbán Saor, who twisted the spiral pillars of its beautiful cloister with his own hands. Using the solid south curtain-wall of the old castle, they built a church from east to west. North of the church they erected a residence for the clergy and a small sacristy. Sioda Cam MacNamara built the cloisters in 1402. The builder of the south transept (1433) fell from its gable, and was killed where a tombstone with the scribed figure of an axe marks his grave. The north-west corner of Carran church overhangs, and is destined to fall on the wisest man that shall pass below it. The bell-tower and Lady Chapel were erected by Mahon MacNamara in 1430. Three years later he sponsored the Franciscan friars and allowed them to establish their friary in Quin. 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.
These friars lit a beacon each evening to warn travellers passing by the nearby river of Ardsollus - which gained its name from this event - Ardsollus meaning 'high light.' The McNamara family also built Bunratty castle, Craggaunowen and Knappogue castle. THE LADY CHAPEL is the last resting place of John "Fireball" MacNamara. He was the last of the MacNamara chieftains, a direct descendant of the men who built this abbey.
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