Quin village and Quin Abbey (Friary), Co. Clare, Ireland

Quin is a beautiful and quiet village in south-east County Clare, in Ireland. It's situated about 10km away from Ennis and 20km from Shannon Airport. The River Rine runs through Quin. If you're a golfer (but not only) you're in luck as Dromoland Castle and Golf Course are a 5 km away.

Quin Abbey is the town's main attraction, besides the local pubs which become packed over the week-end. This Franciscan Friary, founded in 1433, is one of the finest in Ireland, and I recommend visiting if you're in the area.

Around 1280 Thomas de Clare, Lord of Thomond, built a strong castle on this site. It had a large, square courtyard with cylindrical towers at it's four corners (three to be seen today). Six years later the Irish attacked and destroyed it. The castle remained in ruins until the MacNamara family brought the Franciscan order to Quin to found a friary. The church has a nave (the main section where the congregation worshiped) a chancel (where the altar was sited), a tower, and a transept off the nave. The cloister and the buildings around it - where the friars lived, worked and prayed - are located to the north of the church. In 1541 Henry VIII dissolved the friary in his campaign to control the wealth and power of the Church, but several friars - described as "old, helpless men" - still lived in the buildings in the early 17th century. The last friar of Quin, John Hogan, dies in 1820 at 80 years of age.

The village has three pubs: The Abbey Tavern (my favorite), The Monk's Well and The Village Inn (old man's pub). Also there's a good restaurant as well: "The Gallery".