Quin
Cuín

The Ireland's Ancient East
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Cuín · Co. Clare

A village where a Franciscan abbey stands half-preserved and utterly intact — one of the best-surviving friaries in Ireland.

Quin Abbey dominates the village. It is a Franciscan friary founded in the 15th century and never fully destroyed. The cloisters still have their roof. The church windows still have tracery. It is a rarity in Ireland.

The village sits around the abbey. There is not much else. The abbey is the reason to come.

Population

~400

Coords

52.8708° N, 8.8208° W

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Stories & lore.

The reason to come back. The things every local will eventually tell you about, usually after the second pint.

Franciscan friary, 1433–Reformation

Quin Abbey

The friary was founded in 1433 by the O'Brien family and is one of the best-preserved Franciscan friaries in Ireland. The cloisters, church, and domestic buildings all survive to varying degrees. Remarkably, much is still roofed.

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Things to do outside.

Wear waterproofs. Bring a sandwich. Tell someone where you're going if it's the mountain.

Abbey walk Around the abbey ruins. The site is well-preserved and signed.

1 kmdistance

30 mintime

Getting there.

By car

Ennis to Quin is 15 minutes east on the R469.

Next on the tour

Co. Clare

Ennis

The county town west.