Settlement deserted — medieval in Quin,quingardens

A number of grass-covered foundations of rectangular structures of different sizes as well as associated roadways are visible immediately S of Quin Friary (CL042-027002-). Quin is described by McInerney (2014, 84) as an important medieval settlement that had grown up around a late 13th-century Anglo-Norman castle, the ruins of which were incorporated into the sub-structure of the friary (CL042-027002-). Lidar images show the low foundations with great clarity (see Hull and McCooey 2015, 38). The earliest documentary evidence for settlement at Quin is in the 14th century Caithréim Thoirdhealbhaigh where a date of 1277 is cited and further reference to a town is made less than 10 years later by reference to ‘…the round-towered stone-substantial town of Quin’ (Hayes O’Grady 1929, 30). Westropp (1888, 335), citing the Calendar of State Papers, notes that ‘Quin Friary was dissolved in 1541, and granted two years later to Conor, Baron Ibracken, who, like all his family, protected the monks. Five years later - 1548, September 18 - the abbey and its grounds were granted to Teig M'Conor Brien and Tirlagh O'Brien of Dough. It consisted of ‘The precincts of the late house of Franciscan Friars at Queyne in Thomond, conteyninge 1 acre in which is one great church now ruinose covered with sclate (CL042-027003-), & stepill greatlie dacied, a church & cloister (CL042-027002-), with an orchard and other edifices & also 1 water mill (CL042-027013-) ruinose & prostrate & ten cottages in Queyn village’. A possible house (CL042-027022-) and roadway (CL042-027023-) to the SW of the abbey were excavated in 2017 (Hull 2017, Licence no. E004671). The house (c. 6.4m x 4.7m; wall T 1.7m at S) was rectangular and stone built with a possible doorway at the SE corner leading to an adjacent roadway. It is one of some 15-20 structures evident on aerial photographs and lidar images. A large quantity of animal bone indicated domestic waste and a patch of oxidised soil indicated a central hearth. Synthesis of the archaeological and historical information indicated that the structure (and most likely those adjacent) was built in the 15th century at the time of the period of construction at the abbey after 1433. A radiocarbon date of 1441-1631 (UBA-34959) was obtained from an animal tooth recovered from a secure context beneath the metalled roadway (Hull and McCooey 2018, 32). While not all the earthworks have been investigated or dated Hull (2017, 15) notes that they ‘serve as evidence of a probable market town that flourished within a Gaelic lordship, even if its initial impetus was Anglo-Norman.’ Also excavated was a rectangular feature (CL042-027015-) known as ‘The School’ c. 15m E of the abbey (Hull 2017). A field system (CL042-027007-) N and E of the nearby St Finghin’s church (CL042-027003-) may also represent an area of settlement. This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 6/1971). Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 6 June 2018