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DUNDONALD,
a parish, in the barony of LOWER CASTLE REAGH, county of DOWN, and province
of ULSTER, 4 miles (E.) from Belfast, on the mail coach road To Newtown-Ardes,
containing 1669 inhabitants. This parish, which is called also Kirkdonald,
comprises, according to the Ordnance survey, 4635 statute acres of fertile
land, principally under tillage and in a high state of cultivation. Every
improvement in the mode of tillage and the construction of farming implements
has been eagerly adopted, there is neither bog nor waste land in the parish.
The principal seats are Storemont, that of S. Cleveland, Esq. , Summerfield,
of R. Gordon, Esq., Rose Park, of Major Digby, Bessmount, of T. S. Corry,
Esq. , and Donleady, of A. McDonnel, Esq. Near the village is an extensive
bleach-green, where 5000 pieces of linen are annually finished. The living
is a rectory, in the diocese of Down, and in the patronage of S. Cleveland,
Esq., the tithes amount to £205. The glebe-house, a handsome residence,
was built in 1820 by a gift of £300 and a loan of £500 from
the late Board of First Fruits, the glebe comprises 15 and a half acres.
The church, a small edifice, was rebuilt on the site of a former church
in 1771, and a tower was added to it in 1774. In the R. C. divisions the
parish forms part of the union of Newtown-Ardes. There is a place of worship
for Presbyterians in connection with the Synod of Ulster, of the second
class, to the poor of which congregation Mr. John Crane, of London, bequeathed
the interest of a sum of money. About 50 children are taught in the parochial
school, which is aided by the rector, and there is a private school, in
which are about 45 children. A large and handsome school-house has been
built and endowed at Church Quarter, by David Gordon, Esq., the principal
proprietor of the parish. In the demesne of Summerfield is a chalybeate
spring, and close to the church is a large circular fort surrounded by
a moat, from which the parish is supposed to derive its name. A little
below, in the same ground, is a cave continued to the fort and passing
under its base. Near the bleach- green is a conical hill, or rath, contiguous
to which, at the mouth of a small rivulet, is a stone pillar 10 feet high.
Gilbert Kennedy, a distinguished Presbyterian divine, was interred in
the church in 1687.
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