86. New Quay, St Patrick's Church, Bishop's Quarter, Ruins of St Colman's Abbey, Co. Clare - SCENES from IRELAND

[Author photographer © Dr WP Brown PhD plus AI, page updated Feb 17th 2026]

Here’s a full, detailed portrait of New Quay, St Patrick’s Church (with its remarkable round stained‑glass window), Bishop’s Quarter, and the Ruins of St Colman’s Abbey—a cluster of places on the northern edge of the Burren that together form one of the most atmospheric micro‑landscapes in County Clare.

New Quay (Co. Clare)

1. Setting and Character

• New Quay (An Ché Nua) is a small coastal hamlet on the southern shore of Galway Bay, between Ballyvaughan and Kinvara.

• It’s known for:

  • Its quiet shoreline, tidal inlets, and views across to the Burren hills

  • Flaggy Shore, one of the most celebrated coastal walks in Ireland

  • A scattering of cottages, piers, and traditional farmsteads

  • Its association with Seamus Heaney, who wrote “Postscript” after visiting the Flaggy Shore

2. Historical Notes

• The name “New Quay” reflects its origins as a 19th‑century landing place for local trade and fishing.

• The area was historically part of the Gregans estate, and many of the cottages and field patterns reflect estate-era planning.

• The shoreline is rich in limestone pavements, fossil beds, and glacial erratics—classic Burren geology meeting the Atlantic.

3. Landscape and Ecology

• The shallow bays and mudflats attract:

  • Brent geese

  • Curlew

  • Redshank

  • Herons and egrets

• The Burren’s unique flora—spring gentians, orchids, mountain avens—can be found surprisingly close to the shore.

St Patrick’s Church, New Quay

This is one of the most distinctive small churches in the Burren region, especially because of its large circular stained‑glass window.

1. Overview

• Built in the late 19th century (c. 1870s–1880s), replacing an earlier chapel of ease.

• Serves the local Catholic community of New Quay, Finavarra, and the Flaggy Shore.

2. Architectural Features

• A modest Gothic Revival rural church, but with a striking twist:

  • A large round stained‑glass window on the façade—unusual for a small parish church in Clare.

  • The window is often described as “rose‑like” in form, though simpler than a medieval rose window.

• Other features include:

  • Pointed-arch windows along the nave

  • A small bellcote

  • Limestone dressings typical of Burren churches

3. The Large Round Stained‑Glass Window

• The window is the church’s defining feature:

  • A circular composition with radiating segments

  • Rich blues, reds, and golds

  • Likely produced by a late‑19th‑century Irish or English stained‑glass studio

• Symbolism typically includes:

  • Christological motifs

  • Celtic interlace

  • Marian colours

• It brings a surprising sense of grandeur to an otherwise simple rural building.

4. Context

• The church stands close to the shoreline, with views across to Aughinish and the Burren hills.

• It remains a focal point for the small, dispersed community.

Bishop’s Quarter

1. What and Where

• Bishop’s Quarter is a townland just east of Ballyvaughan, stretching from the foothills of the Burren down to a long sandy beach.

• The name reflects medieval ecclesiastical ownership—lands held by the Bishops of Kilfenora.

2. Bishop’s Quarter Beach

• One of the few sandy beaches in the northern Burren.

• Popular for:

  • Swimming

  • Walking

  • Birdwatching

  • Views across Galway Bay to Connemara

• The dunes and backshore fields contain traces of:

  • Ancient field systems

  • Shell middens

  • Early settlement activity

3. Historical Landscape

• The area was part of a network of ecclesiastical lands linked to Kilfenora Cathedral.

• Later, it became part of the Gregory/Gregans estate.

• The combination of fertile lowlands and access to the sea made it valuable for centuries.

Ruins of St Colman’s Abbey (Oughtmama / Gleninagh Area)

There are several early Christian sites dedicated to St Colman in the Burren, but the one most commonly associated with New Quay/Bishop’s Quarter is the ruined medieval church known as St Colman’s, located inland in the hills near the Oughtmama valley.

1. Origins

• The site is linked to St Colman mac Duagh (6th–7th century), a major Burren saint associated with ascetic hermitages.

• The present ruins date mainly from the 12th–13th centuries, with later additions.

2. Architectural Features

• Typical Burren Romanesque and early Gothic elements:

  • A simple rectangular nave

  • A chancel with a Romanesque doorway or window (depending on the specific ruin)

  • Thick limestone walls

  • Traces of antae or early medieval features in some associated structures

• The setting is dramatic—tucked into a limestone valley with steep slopes rising around it.

3. Monastic Context

• St Colman’s sites in the Burren were part of a network of early monastic settlements:

  • Oughtmama churches

  • Gleninagh

  • Abbey Hill hermitages

• These were small, austere communities focused on prayer, farming, and isolation.

4. Later History

• The abbey fell into ruin after the medieval period.

• It remained a local burial ground for centuries.

• Today it is a quiet, atmospheric ruin surrounded by hazel scrub and limestone terraces.

How These Places Fit Together

Together they form a microcosm of the Burren’s identity:
early Christian spirituality, medieval landholding, 19th‑century rural life, and a landscape where geology, sea, and history are inseparable.

Looking out to the coastline at New Quay from St Patrick's Church.

St Patrick's Church

The cemetery graveyard of St Patrick's Church, New Quay

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The wonderful stunning stained glass window in St Patrick's Church

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Looking towards the sea from St Patrick's Church, New Quay

The fortified tower of ? Castle

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The Bishop's Quarter, St Colman's Abbey

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The quayside New Quay, Bell Harbour?

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