Quin Abbey was built in 1433 on the ruins of a strong Anglo-Norman castle. Thomas de Clare had built the castle in 1280, a large square courtyard containing several buildings, surrounded by a curtain wall with four cylindrical towers, one at each corner. After only six years, the castle was attacked and destroyed by the native Irish. The only evidence of the castle today are the bases of three of the bastions, or towers.

The nearby church of St Finghin was also built c1280 by de Clare, on the site of an ealier church.

Although entry to Quin Abbey is free, the site is supervised so its worth checking opening times beforehand if you want to get inside the locked gate!