*Diana and Adrian Fleming with manager Geraldine Crowley. Photograph: Tom Micks
WHEN The Monks Well in Quin opened its doors under new ownership last March, its proprietors decreed that the landmark establishment would be “more of a hub than a pub” forever more.
That mantra has held true after their first year in business, under the stewardship of new owners Adrian and Diana Fleming.
Following a beautiful multi-million euro redevelopment, the iconic building reopened to the public in 2025 as a pub, guesthouse and brunch café. Through a combination of hard work, warmth and a sharp focus on community, the Monks Well is today flourishing and provides that much-needed heartbeat in the thriving village of Quin.
The Monks Well, which also operates boutique guest rooms (The Monks Quarters) and a Brunch Café (The Monks Pantry) has already become a popular community venue in the heart of Quin. With live music every weekend, it hosts parties and family gatherings, and regular community events like yoga or art classes.
“We always said this was going to be more of a hub than a pub,” Adrian tells The Clare Echo, describing his vision of developing a community hub which serves as a multi-use focal point for Quin.
“When we set about designing the pub we added on a café for that meeting and coworking element. We made sure the pub catered for people like locals who just want their quiet pint, that’s what the front bar is for. Equally the back bar is better set up for live music and parties. And we’ve had all sorts of parties.”
Not only that, The Monks Well has lived up to its vision as serving as a multi-purpose building with events such as pilates, yoga, paint and sip, model-making and paint your pooch being hosted in the bar and the barn in Year One. It also serves as a top class facility that can comfortably host community groups and local celebrations, along with birthdays, engagement parties and important family events.
Adrian notes that prior to their establishment, community groups, teams from Cloooney-Quin GAA and familiy events would often be drawn into Ennis due to space constrictions in Quin. Now, that has all changed.
“The variety of things we’ve been able to accommodate goes far beyond a pub,” he says. “It’s not necessarily alcohol-driven either which is important for a community hub. That was all part of the vision. The Monks Well has brought an awful lot of people who aren’t pub-goers into a pub or café environment because of say the cheese boards or charcuterie boards we’ve started doing or recently the novel pizzas.”
One event which stands out in Adrian’s memory is hosting the Clooney-Quin senior hurlers on the night of their disappointing 2025 County Final defeat in Cusack Park.
“It was bittersweet,” Adrian recalls, explaining that the team at the Monks Well had created a private area in the barn for the team to socialise following the match.
“When they arrived, they walked in the front door, everybody stopped and applauded and cheered them.
“They started mingling with everybody when they were ready. It was a proud moment for me, I was there and one of the people clapping them as they walked in the door. For me, that was the epitome of it being more of a hub than a pub. Finally teams had a place to go en-mass, all of their friends, the teammates, they all had a place to go, and the community had a place to celebrate that.”
Reflecting on their first year in business, Adrian recalls booming nights when himself and wife Diana were called into action behind the bar. “Neither myself or my wife Diana had any experience in the hospitality sector so we were learning on the hoof. I poured my first pint on the Thursday night before we opened the pub,” Adrian tells The Clare Echo. “In the first few open weekends the place was heaving and I was in behind the bar more than I ever thought that I would and I got good at pouring pints eventually.”
He admits however, that none of their success would be possible without their dedicated staff.
“We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without a terrific team who know what they’re doing and we’re very appreciative of that. Geraldine Crowley is the manager of the pub and we have a full team of people behind her and we’re very lucky to have them all. They’re reliable and dependable and we all have great craic, and when needed myself and Diana do jump in behind the bar and we really enjoy it. We don’t get the chance as often as we’d like because we have three children at home.”
Amongst the Monks Wells achievements in Year One includes being recognised as Best Newcomer in the Irish Bar of the Year awards, just five months after opening its doors. The Monks Well competed with a judges’ shortlist of 16 pubs nationwide to be named Best Newcomer, “an incredible achievement for a pub that was open less than six months”.
Looking ahead, The Monks Well has plans to grow their food and café offering in the future but one thing that will remain constant is the team’s approach to customer care.
“At the very beginning we focussed on, number one, giving a warm welcome, and the rest will come. Since then we found that different people find different things in the pub that draws them. For some people it’s the parties and events. For others it’s the space. More people love our beer garden. Some come for the charcutrie and cheese boards. Others come because we have a drink on tap that they don’t get anywhere else. It’s a broad reach to be honest.”
Celebrating a year in business, Adrian says they are eternally grateful for the local support. “We couldn’t have done it without them. Their feedback has been invaluable. I think a lot of people would say their feedback is genuinely listened to.
“We’re so grateful to the locals, people from surrounding areas who have chosen us for events like engagement parties, wedding Day Twos, coming from all the surrounding villages, parishes and towns. That really took us by surprise and we’re delighted to have them.”
For any enquiries call 085 8305452 or visit www.themonkswell.ie for more information or to book your overnight stay.
All photographs by Tom Micks
