It was founded in 1402 by Sheda Cam MacNamara, lord
of Clanculein. [21]
In 1433, Pope Eugenius IV. granted to Mahone Dall MacNamara, the then
chief of the family, a licence to place friars of the Strict Observance
in the monastery. Quin was thus the first convent in Ireland in which
that reformation of the Franciscan Order was admitted. [22]
MacNamara, in the course of the same year added to the building, and in
succeeding generations votive altars were built by other members of the
same ancient family. [23]
In truth the whole edifice forms a monument of the munificence and piety
of that once powerful race. Previously to the foundation of the Abbey
of Quin, their place of sepulture was at Ennis. Their bounty was not confined
to the mere building, because they endowed the friars with lands, fisheries,
and other kinds of property. [24]
When the monasteries of Clare were suppressed in the beginning of the
reign of Elizabeth the brethren were expelled, and Quin Abbey was converted
into a barrack by the English garrison. The building was soon burned over
their heads by Donogh O’Brien. [25]
By the munificence of the MacNamaras and of the other families of the
district, it was soon roofed over again, the walls, by their firmness,
having remained uninjured. [26]
In 1626 it was again occupied, under the authority of Father Francis Matthew
the then Provincial of the Franciscan Order in Ireland, and Father Teige
(called Bonaventure) MacGorman, a preacher of the Order, was placed over
it as superior. In the previous years the friars had often visited the
place, and accorded their ministrations to the people of the surrounding
country. One of them was Rory MacNamara son of Donald and Mary MacMahon.
He was taken and shot by Cromwell’s followers near Clare Castle
in 1651. Daniel Clancy of a respectable family of Tradraigh was a lay-brother.
He shared the same fate in that year. Jeremiah M‘Inerney the son
of wealthy parents was also a lay-brother. He entered the Order in 1640
while Father Teige MacGorman was still guardian, and suffered death at
the hands of the English in 1651. [27]
Bishop Pocock thus describes it as it stood in his time (1740): “Quin
is one of the finest and most entire monasteries in Ireland. It has an
ascent of several steps to the church. At the entrance one is surprised
with the view of the high altar. On each side of the arch of the chancel
is a chapel, that at the south containing three or four altars and a Gothic
figure of some saint in relief. The other on the north contains a monument
of the family of MacNamara of Ranna. On a stone by the high altar appears
the name of Kennedy in large letters.” At the north side of the
high altar is a handsome tomb, with an inscription round the edge in these
words: “Hic jacent Oidh filius Laurentii filii Mathei MacConmara,
et Constina ni MacNamara, uxor ejus, qui me fieri fecerunt.” Above
this inscription on the same tomb is a coat of arms, a lion rampant, crest
a hand with a javelin, the motto “Firmitas in Cœlo,”
and this inscription: “This monument was erected by Mahon Dall MacNamara,
and repaired by Captain Teige MacNamara, of Ranna, A.D. 1714.” [28]
In the south chapel of the abbey is a tomb with the following epitaph:
“I.H.S. This tomb was erected by Mathew Macnamara of Moohane, in
ye year 1500, and repaired by his great grandson, Mathew Macnamara, of
Summerhill, in the year 1768, in memory of his father Teige, and his brother
James Rowe M‘Namara. R.I.P.” Another tomb in the same chapel
has this inscription: “Here lies the body of Edmond Macnamara grandson
to Hugh Macnamara, of Corbally, deceased this life May the 17 th,
1761, aged 21 years.” Under the tower in a recess, is found a broken
flag stone part which is wanting and upon which can be traced the following
words: “Hic jacet Johannes Capi[ta]nus MacNemara [Ju]nii 1601. More
ni M[ac-n]amara me fieri fe[c]it.” On a tomb partly buried in the
wall of the sacristy are these words, the rest being covered by the mason
work: “Here lies the I . . . .
McNamara, of . . . Dyed the 18th of . . . .
Cap. Teige Mc . . . . Ranna, aged 82 . . . . .
ye 27 July, 1741 . . . . McNamara of Ba . . . . .
who died in ye . . . . his age ye 10th . . . .”
In another part of the abbey is found a tomb thus inscribed:
“Here lyeth the body of Mary Creagh, otherwise MacNamara, wife of
Andrew Creagh of the city of Limerick merchant and eldest daughter of
Daniel MacNamara of Ardcluny in the county of Clare, Esq. and Mary MacNamara,
otherwise O’Callaghan his wife, daughter and heiress of Thady O’Callaghan
of Mountallon in said county, deceased, who died the 23rd of
June, 1756.”
In the course of the excavations made by the Irish Board
of Works in 1882, it was found that the abbey had been built on the site
of a Norman castle. The castle had round towers at the four angles forming
a square, with curtain walls of the thickness of ten feet connecting them.
In the construction of the church the builders utilized two of these curtain
walls, forming of them the south and east walls of the chancel.
We give here translations of some Irish Deeds relating
to lands situate in Quin. “Partition of Land, 1543: The effect of
this writing is as follows: A partition is made by Donogh O’Brien,
and by Conor son of Donogh MacGluin, between Mahone son of Morogh MacGluin
and his brother Donogh to wit, to Donogh the quartermeer of the half quarter
nearest to the fort of the half quarter of Cullenagh in Ballymacloon,
and the half quartermeer of Derreen in Carrowgar, the half quartermeer
of Lisduff in Creevagh, and the half quartermeer Clonmore in Creevagh,
comprising five half quartermeers. All the lands possessed by the said
MacGluins over and and above those heretofore mentioned are to be divided
share and share alike between them. Written at Cuincé (Quin), the
11th of July, 1542. The witnesses present are God in the first
place, Donogh O’Brien, Teige MacConmeadh MacNamara, Donogh son of
John (M‘Namara), of Kilkishen; Teige Ultagh, of Ballymacashel; Conor
MacGluin, Richard Roe MacMaoilin, Conor Balv (the stammerer), O’Rodan
the steward of O’Brien. I. Mahone MacGluin.[29]
Purchase of Land, A.D. 1545.
“This is the amount of the mortgage which Murrogh,
son of Donogh M‘Gluin, paid for the half quarter of the Liss of
Carnmallow for Donogh, the son of Conor O’Brien, [30]
and also for Murrogh himself, viz. twenty milch cows with her calves,
twenty in-calf cows, a dozen of heifers, and two strippers. This mortgage
was given to John son of Loghlen MacNamara of Ballymarkahan, for the half
quarter of Lisheennabunnia, and for the half quartermeer of Ballyanerball.
It is by the consent of Teige son of Loghlen his brother, that Mahone
mortgaged the half quarter of the Liss and Knock in the first-mentioned
lands. All other lands which the aforesaid race of MacGluin should acquire
to be enjoyed, share and share alike, between themselves and their foster
brother said Donogh O’Brien and their heirs. At the expiration of
five years afterwards Murrogh MacGluin gave sixty marks to said Mahone
and Teige son of Loghlen, for the fee-simple of that land for ever, according
to the form and covenant before mentioned. Anno Domini, 1545. In witness
whereof we, Mahone, son of Loghlen of Ballymarkahan, and Teige son of
Loghlen of the same place, do set our hands to this deed in presence of
witnesses here present.—Mahone MacLoghlan, Teige MacLoghlen. Murrogh
O’Brien is the O’Brien at this time.[31]
(Murchad O’Brian, na O’Brian an tan so). These are
the witnesses present, viz., Teige MacNamara and John MacNamara of Danganbrack;
Donald M‘Rory of Caherscooby; Flaherty O’Liddy of Shandangan;
Teige O’Brien of Quin; Thomas Duff, son of Miler of Kilnahow; Teige,
son of Donogh, son of John, of Cloonlissan; and many others not mentioned
here.” |
