Editing Downpatrick (section)

===19th century===
On 21 October 1803, a co-founder and leader of the [[United Irishmen]], [[Thomas Russell (rebel)|Thomas Russell]], was hanged outside Downpatrick Gaol for his part in trying to raise local United Irishmen and [[Defenders (Ireland)|Defenders]] in support of [[Irish rebellion of 1803|Robert Emmet's rebellion]] in July of that year.  Russell is buried in the graveyard of the Anglican parish Church of Downpatrick, St Margaret's, in a grave paid for by his friend [[Mary Ann McCracken]], sister of leading Belfast United Irishman [[Henry Joy McCracken]] who had been hanged in 1798.

In his role as barrister, [[Daniel O'Connell]], "The Liberator", was called away from London to Downpatrick to attend the County Down Assizes, as counsel in a case heard on 1 April 1829.<ref>Selected reports from the Belfast Newsletter</ref> As the leading campaigner for [[Catholic Emancipation]], he had been in London for the parliamentary passage of the [[Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829]] which lifted the sacramental test bar to Catholics entering the British Parliament. On 2 April 1829, O'Connell attended a public dinner at Downpatrick in his honour, along with "upwards of eighty gentlemen, of different religious persuasions".

On St Patrick's Day, 17 March 1848, a crowd of 2,000–3,000 Catholics set off from Old Course Road intending to parade to the reputed grave of St Patrick on Cathedral Hill. They were attacked by Protestant [[Orange Order|Orangemen]] at the Irish Street shambles and a riot ensued.

[[File:St Patrick's Catholic Church, Downpatrick - geograph.org.uk - 2446907.jpg|thumb|St Patrick's Catholic Church]]