Quin Abbey is one of County Clare's most atmospheric monastic ruins, a Franciscan friary built into and around earlier Norman remains. The walls, cloister, tower, and open sky give it a strong sense of place without the heavy traffic of better-known Irish ruins.
From Ennis it is an easy side trip, especially if you are exploring castles, abbeys, and village landscapes east of town. The site rewards slow wandering and a little historical reading before you go.