Clare Abbey was the first, largest and most important Augustinian house in Co. Clare. It was built in 1189 by Donal Mor O’Brien and dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. It is situated on an elevated site beside the Fegus River. Despite a turbulent history, it's believed that the abbey was the scene of a bloody battle in 1278, it remained in use until the Augustinians left in 1650. By 1703 much of the abbey was a ruin .Much of the south wall collapsed in 1875. A number of later additions to the body of the abbey survive as well as later buildings.