DEAaneE—On Quin Abbey. 203 
Towers were generally covered by gabled roofs. 
Parapets were a fifteenth century invention. Almost all the thir- 
teenth century roofs had eaves, and the triple battlements with over- 
lapping stone gutters are entirely of fifteenth century origin. 
The fifteenth century restoration was florid in its character, tracery 
taking the place of lancet windows. It also partook of a military 
character. 
The sixteenth and seventeenth century restoration is characterized 
by the closing up of large windows, by filling them from the bottom, 
and curtailing them at the top; evidencing a dread of external 
violence, and also poverty, in the reduction of the size of glazed 
windows. Many of the naves of churches were converted into con- 
ventual buildings by the introduction of floors and fireplaces, the 
choirs alone being used for the services of the Church. 
The west end of Cashel cathedral and Athassail, Co. Tipperary, 
are examples of semi-military abbeys. The latter (Athassail) is a 
splendid example. The abbey proper is of immense size and very 
pure thirteenth century work, and an Augustinian foundation. The 
nave is 117 feet long by 55 wide, inclusive of aisles; the choir 44 by 
26 ft. 6in. A lofty tower and transepts, the enceinte, gates, bridge, 
provision for portcullis, and other defences all remain, and also the 
wine-cellars. At a future time I hope to lay before the Academy 
drawings of this remarkable building, which, I am happy to say, will 
shortly come under our hands, and that the danger of its utter de- 
struction, now so imminent, may be averted. It would be impossible 
in a short Paper, really intended to bring a particular abbey under 
notice, to trace the great interest attaching to the ruins of Ireland. 
It is a great pity so few measured drawings of them exist, and that 
their illustration is limited to the brief account given in the Annual 
Report of the Board of Works. 
Quin, Quint, Quinchy (Plate XIII.), stands in the barony of 
Bunratty, five miles from Ennis. According to the ‘‘ Monasticon,” 
an abbey was founded here, a.p. 1278. The monastery of Quin was 
founded in 1402 for Franciscan friars, by Siodd Cam MacNamara, 
but Father Wadding places it 1350. In 1433 Pope Eugene IV. 
granted a license to MacNamara to place friars of strict observance 
in this monastery, and the same year, Macon Dale MacNamara 
erected this beautiful, strong building of black marble. Thus we 
find three dates—1278, 1350, and 1483. I have no doubt the 
eastern end, choir wall, northern wall of nave, and the western end 
belong to the first—1278. I should fix the transept and tower at 
1433, but I cannot recognise any detail by which to fix 1350. 
Edward I., Edward III., Henry VI.—The conventual buildings 
may in parts be later, but the main features of the building are as 
above. A glance at the plan will show you that outside the main 
walls of the abbey are the remains of a fortress, which for the moment 
we shall call Norman. The northern tower is in the best state of 
preservation ; the curtain wall exists; the base of the southern tower 
