Dromore, County Down

Arms of the Bishopric of Dromore

On Sunday, August 7th, 2022, I paid a visit to Dromore, a small town and cathedral city in County Down.

Dromore, in the barony of Lower Iveagh, standing on the River Lagan, is close to Royal Hillsborough in the same county.

An abbey was reputedly established here, in the 6th century, by St Colman, and to have been constituted the cathedral or seat of a bishopric, of which St Colman was made the first bishop.

This abbey had acquired extensive possessions by the 10th century, and was frequently plundered by the Danes; and, moreover, suffered materially from the continued feuds of the powerful septs of the O'Neills, Magennises, and Macartans.

At the Reformation the cathedral was in ruins, and remained thus till 1610, when JAMES I re-founded the see by letters patent, rebuilt the cathedral, and accorded the bishop extensive landed possessions in this and several adjoining parishes.

An episcopal palace was begun by Bishop Buckworth, but previously to its completion the Irish Rebellion of 1641 broke out, and the cathedral, the unfinished palace, and the town were entirely destroyed by the parliamentarian forces. 

Arms of the Bishopric of Down,
Connor, and Dromore

From this time the town was in ruins until the Restoration, when CHARLES II gave the see in commendam to the notable prelate Jeremy Taylor, with Down and Connor, by whom the present church, which is also parochial, was built on the site of the ruined cathedral.

Beneath the communion table in the cathedral is a vault in which Dr Taylor and two of his successors are interred.

Bishop Percy's remains are deposited in a vault in the transept added to the cathedral, as are those of Mrs Percy.

The first Protestant blood of the Revolution was shed in the vicinity of the town; and WILLIAM III marched through on the 24th June, 1690, en route to the field of the Boyne.

Market Square, Dromore (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

Dromore comprises a central square, and radiating streets; and though nominally a city, it's really a rural market town.

Market Square, Dromore (W A Green/NMNI)

The market-house, located in the Square, is a substantial building; while the cathedral and parish church is comparatively small and unpretentious, not cruciform.

The episcopal residence, adjoining the town, was erected in the time of Bishop Bernard; and the woods around it were planted by Bishop Percy, on the model, it is claimed, of those of The Leastowes, seat of William Shenstone.

High Cross of Dromore (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

The High Cross, standing outside the wall of the cathedral today, was formerly in the market square until it was broken up in the 17th century.

High Cross (W A Green/NMNI)

This ancient cross was repaired and removed to its present position in 1887; and an inscription on its shaft reads:

"The ancient historical cross of Dromore. Erected and restored after many years of neglect by public subscription to which the board of public works were contributor under the auspices of the town commissioners of Dromore co. Down 21 D 1887."

During my trip to Dromore I attended divine worship at the Cathedral, where I met the Dean; Sara McCorkell; and other parishioners afterwards.

Memorial to 8th Earl of Clanwilliam (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

The interior has a number of memorials on the walls, including those of the Vaughan family, of Quilly, and the Earls of Clanwilliam, of Gill Hall and Montalto.

Memorial to 3rd Earl of Clanwilliam (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

In the graveyard is the tomb of the Vaughans, just below the High Cross.

Vaughan family tomb (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

NOT far from the cathedral are the ruins of an early 17th century castle built by William Worsley, of Hallan, Nottinghamshire, brother-in-law to Dr John Todd, Lord Bishop of Down, Connor, and Dromore from 1607-12.

Dromore Castle (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

Worsley erected the castle for Bishop Todd's protection, being one of the conditions on which a considerable extent of the see lands was alienated to Worsley, and which led to the Act for restraining bishops from leasing lands beyond a term of twenty-one years.

Dromore Castle interior (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

The castle comprises a square tower, three storeys in height; the first floor being about eight feet above ground floor level.

The Castle, Dromore (W A Green/NMNI)

Narrow slits are on the surviving walls.

First published in August, 2022.