Fergus O'Dowd
Encyclopedia
Fergus O'Dowd is an Irish
Fine Gael
politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Louth constituency
, and the Minister of State for the NewEra Project
.
O'Dowd was born in Thurles
, County Tipperary
. He was educated by the Christian Brothers
in Drogheda
, County Louth
. He currently resides in the town. He served three terms as Mayor of Drogheda: 1977–78, 1981–82 and 1994–95. He served on Louth County Council
between 1979 and 2003. He is married to Agnes and has three sons. He is a brother of Niall O'Dowd
, publisher of the Irish Voice
newspaper in New York City
.
A teacher before entering politics, O'Dowd was elected to Seanad Éireann
on the Administrative Panel in 1997. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 2002 general election
. He was immediately appointed Fine Gael spokesperson for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
. He was party spokesperson on Environment, Heritage and Local Government from 2004–2007, and on Transport and Marine from 2007–2010. In June 2010, he supported Richard Bruton
's leadership challenge to Enda Kenny
. Following Kenny's victory in a motion of confidence, he was appointed as party spokesperson on Education and Skills.
On 10 March 2011, he was appointed as Minister of State for the NewEra Project
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for the Louth constituency
Louth (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Louth is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
, and the Minister of State for the NewEra Project
Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil
This is a list of Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil. On 9 March 2011, the 29th Government of Ireland was nominated by Dáil Éireann on the advice of the Taoiseach, and then appointed by the President...
.
O'Dowd was born in Thurles
Thurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
. He was educated by the Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
in Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He currently resides in the town. He served three terms as Mayor of Drogheda: 1977–78, 1981–82 and 1994–95. He served on Louth County Council
Louth County Council
Louth County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Louth in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach...
between 1979 and 2003. He is married to Agnes and has three sons. He is a brother of Niall O'Dowd
Niall O'Dowd
Niall O'Dowd , is an Irish journalist and author living in the United States. He was extensively involved in the negotiations leading to the Irish Good Friday Peace Agreement, and is a proponent of comprehensive immigration reform in the United States...
, publisher of the Irish Voice
Irish Voice
The Irish Voice is a newspaper published in New York City, New York. It focuses on news and stories from an Irish-American perspective. The paper was first published in the fall of 1987 and was targeted at the new Irish immigrants who were moving in large numbers into the US.-Origins:The paper was...
newspaper in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
A teacher before entering politics, O'Dowd was elected to Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
on the Administrative Panel in 1997. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
at the 2002 general election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
. He was immediately appointed Fine Gael spokesperson for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is a senior minister at the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is Frances Fitzgerald, TD.-Overview:...
. He was party spokesperson on Environment, Heritage and Local Government from 2004–2007, and on Transport and Marine from 2007–2010. In June 2010, he supported Richard Bruton
Richard Bruton
Richard Bruton is an Irish Fine Gael politician and has been a Teachta Dála for the Dublin North Central constituency since 1982. He was appointed as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on 9 March 2011...
's leadership challenge to Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
. Following Kenny's victory in a motion of confidence, he was appointed as party spokesperson on Education and Skills.
On 10 March 2011, he was appointed as Minister of State for the NewEra Project
Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil
This is a list of Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil. On 9 March 2011, the 29th Government of Ireland was nominated by Dáil Éireann on the advice of the Taoiseach, and then appointed by the President...
.