DOWNPATRICK, market town and county town of Co. Down, Ireland, 28 m. S.S.E. of Belfast by rail. Pop. (1926), It stands near the south-west extremity of Strangford Lough. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic and Protestant dio ceses of Down. St. Patrick founded the see about 44o, but the present Protestant cathedral dates from 1790, the old structure having been in ruins for 25o years. A round tower adjoining it was destroyed in 1790. The rath or dun, from which the town is named, remains as one of the finest in Ireland. It was called Rath-Kaltair and covers 10 acres. In the vicinity are remnants of the monastery of Saul, a foundation ascribed to St. Patrick, and of Inch abbey (118o) , founded by Sir John de Courcy. Three miles south is a stone circle and to the south-east are the wells of Struell. The town was called doun-leth-plas, the fort of the broken fetters, from the deliverance from bondage of two sons of Dichu, prince of Lecale, and the first convert of St. Patrick. It is the Dunum of Ptolemy and was the residence of the kings of Ulster. It was already incorporated early in the 15th century.
A small trade is carried on at Strangford Lough, the quay being below the town. Linen manufacture, brewing, tanning and soap making are the chief industries.