DUNHILL, or DON-ISLE, anciently called DONDRONE,
a parish, in the barony of MIDDLETHIRD,
county of Waterford, and province of Munster, 8
miles (S.E.) from Kilmacthomas; containing 2128 inhabitants.
It is situated on St. George's channel, and
comprises 6115 statute acres, as applotted under the
tithe act. The high lands are principally composed of
pudding-stone and clay-slate, with large masses of
jasper, some of which is very beautiful The village of
Annestown has a few lodging-houses for the accommodation
of visitors in the bathing season. The living is a
vicarage, in the diocese of Lismore, united to the vicarages
of Guileagh and Newcastle, and iu the gift of the
Corporation of Waterford, in which the rectory is impropriate.
The tithes amount to £210, of which £110
is payable to the impropriators, and £100 to the vicar;
and the vicarial tithes of the union are £194. The glebe
comprises above 6 acres. The church at Aunestown
was rebuilt in 1822, by aid of a gift of £900 from the
late Board of First Fruits; and there is a chapel of ease
at Guileagh. In the R. G. divisions the parish is the
head of a union or district, and has a commodious chapel.
The most remarkable ruin is Don Isle or Donhill
castle, which was a principal seat of a branch of the
La Poors, and was taken by Cromwell's army, after an
obstinate defence made by a female proprietor, who was
called Countess of Don Isle. Near it are the ruins of
the church, against one of the walls of which stood a
statue with a coronet, which has lately been placed in
front of the R. C. chapel. In its vicinity is a cromlech
of silicious slate.