O'Dowd
Encyclopedia
Irish name
A formal Irish-language name consists of a given name and a surname. Surnames in Irish are generally patronymic in etymology, although they are no longer literal patronyms, as Icelandic names are...
. Many modern variants of the O'Dowd surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
exist. The prefix has been widely retained, O'Dowd being more usual than Dowd
Dowd
Dowd is a derivation of an ancient surname which was once common in Ireland but is now quite rare. The name Dowd is an Anglicisation of the original Ui Dubhda, through its more common form O'Dowd. The Ui Dubhda are one of the Clann Ui Fiachrach, one of the major families of Irish clans.- People :*...
. Other modern variants are Dawdy, Dowdy, O'Dowda and Dowds, with Doody and Duddy, found around Killarney
Killarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
, where a branch of the Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
family settled. All are Ó Dubhda in Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
, the root word being "dubh" black. A quite distinct minor sept
Sept (social)
A sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially a division of a clan. The word might have its origin from Latin saeptum "enclosure, fold", or it can be an alteration of sect.The term is found in both Ireland and Scotland...
of O Dubhda was located in County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
. Survivors of this in Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
today are usually called Duddy.
Arms
Coat of Arms of the O'Dowd ClanO'Hart records two arms for the O'Dowd Clan. One in what is today County Mayo (the senior branch) and the other in Sligo.
Princes of Hy-Fiachra (Mayo)
- ARMS - Vert a saltire or, in chief two swords in saltire, points upwards, the dexter surmounted of the sinister argent, pommels and hilts gold.
- CREST - over a coronet, a dexter hand in armour, holding a dart, proper.
- SUPPORTERS - two lions rampant
- MOTTO - "Virtus Ipsa Suis Firmissima Nititur Armis" (Bravery is Best Sustained by Arms). Irish: Bíonn crógacht is seasmhaí faoi chothú arm
Princes of Hy-Fiachra (Sligo)
- ARMS - or a saltier sable, in chief two swords in saltier, points upwards, the dexter surmounted of the sinister argent, pommels and hilts gold, in base and oak leaf, the stalk upwards, vert.
- CREST - over a coronet, a dexter hand in armour, holding a dart, proper.
- SUPPORTERS - two lions rampant
- MOTTO - "Virtus Ipsa Suis Firmissima Nititur Armis" (Bravery is Best Sustained by Arms). Irish: Bíonn crógacht is seasmhaí faoi chothú arm
History
The O'Dowd clan or sept traces its descent from Fiachra, brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages, through Daithi, the last pagan King of Ireland who, legend has it, was killed by a bolt of lightning as he led an army to the foot of the Alps in 455 AD. His grandson Aillil ("Al-ill") succeeded as King of Connacht and later King of Tara until 482.
Uí Fiachrach
The Uí Fiachrach were a dynasty who originated in, and whose descendants later ruled, the coicead or fifth of Connacht at different times from the mid-first millennium onwards. They claimed descent from Fiachrae, an older half-brother of Niall Noigiallach or Niall of the Nine Hostages...
, a tribal group that occupied the modern counties of Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
and Sligo. The Uí Faichrach provided successive kings of Connacht for a long period, but their sphere of influence became confined to North Connacht. In the late 10th century, their king was named Aedh Ua Dubhda (Hugh O'Dooda). He is recorded as having 'died an untroubled death' in the year 982, making this surname one of the oldest in Europe. His grandson, Mulrony, who died in 1005 had the title of Lord of Hyfiachrach. The O'Dowds were a maritime
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
power of considerable ability in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. On land they managed to hold their territory intact against the superior forces of the Burkes and Birminghams. Their territory at its widest embraced the baronies of Erris
Erris
Erris is a barony in northwestern County Mayo in Ireland consisting of over , much of which is mountainous blanket bog. It has extensive sea coasts along its west and north boundaries. The main towns are Belmullet and Bangor Erris. The name Erris derives from the Irish 'Iar Ros' meaning 'western...
and Tirawley
Tirawley
The Barony of Tyrawley is situated in the north east portion of County Mayo. It is the area which is coloured bright green on the map to the top right...
in Mayo and Tireragh in Sligo. They forged a kingdom in North Connacht which they ringed with 20 castles, often referred to as "10-Pound Castles," and held off all comers for centuries until the incursion of the Anglo-Norman
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
s.
The style and design of these small Irish castles is said to have originated from a subsidy of 10-Pounds which was granted by Henry IV
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
in 1429. However, many of the O'Dowd castles have a far more ancient history of being built directly over the site of stone age and Bronze Age fortifications.
Killala
Killala is a village in County Mayo in Ireland, north of Ballina. The railway line from Dublin to Ballina once extended to Killala. To the west of Killala is a Townsplots West , which contains numerous ancient forts.- History :...
, on the east shore of Killala Bay near the border of Sligo and Mayo. They were considerably reduced by the Anglo-Norman incursion into Connacht in the thirteenth century but were still powerful and in 1354 Sen-Bhrian O'Dowd succeeded in driving all the Anglo-Norman settlers out of Tireragh for a time.
The O'Dowds are unique in having left a detailed account of the inauguration ceremony of their Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
(clan leader). This was written in an ancient manuscript known as the Great Book of Lecan, written near Enniscrone in Tireragh between 1397 and 1418 and now carefully preserved in Dublin. The inaugural ceremony of each succeeding O'Dowd was presided over by a MacFirbis, the hereditary chroniclers of the clan. One of the most generous sponsors of the MacFirbis scholars was Tadhg Riabhach O'Dubhda ('Dark Teige'), who became Taoiseach of Tireragh in 1417. He is particularly remembered in this manuscript where his death is recorded at Enniscrone Castle.
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
. The clan played an honourable role in the war, assisting Hugh Roe O'Donnell
Hugh Roe O'Donnell
Aodh Rua Ó Dónaill, anglicised as either Hugh Roe O'Donnell or Red Hugh O'Donnell , was An Ó Domhnaill and Rí of Tir Chonaill . He led the Irish forces against the English conquest of Ireland from 1593 and helped to lead the Nine Years' War from 1595 to 1603...
, in defending the western border of Ulster from incursions by the Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, KG was an English nobleman and a favourite of Elizabeth I. Politically ambitious, and a committed general, he was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during the Nine Years' War in 1599...
in 1599 (most probably at the Battle of Curlew Pass
Battle of Curlew Pass
The Battle of Curlew Pass was fought on the 15th of August 1599, during the campaign of the Earl of Essex in the Nine Years' War, between an English force under Sir Conyers Clifford and a rebel Irish force led by Hugh Roe O'Donnell. The English were ambushed and routed while marching through a pass...
). With the Irish defeat in 1603, their power rapidly dwindled and they were deprived of most of their patrimonial possessions. Daithi Óg O'Dowd, who married in 1636, was the last generation of O'Dowds given by MacFirbis in his pedigree of the clan. This also coincides with historical events - namely the Cromwellian reconquest (1642)
Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
The Cromwellian conquest of Ireland refers to the conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Cromwell landed in Ireland with his New Model Army on behalf of England's Rump Parliament in 1649...
following Ulster's 1641 revolt.
From the rarity of the surname today, one must conclude that these successive wars, particularly those in the 17th century against the English, and the subsequent savage repression, greatly diminished O'Dowd numbers along with their power and influence.
Several O'Dowds were bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s of the see of Killala. Father John Ó Duada, who was tortured and hanged in 1579, was one of the many Irish Franciscan martyrs. Many of the name appear in the ranks of the Confederate Catholics
Confederate Ireland
Confederate Ireland refers to the period of Irish self-government between the Rebellion of 1641 and the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in 1649. During this time, two-thirds of Ireland was governed by the Irish Catholic Confederation, also known as the "Confederation of Kilkenny"...
and, later in the seventeenth century, in Catholic King James II of England
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
's army during the Williamite war in Ireland
Williamite war in Ireland
The Williamite War in Ireland—also called the Jacobite War in Ireland, the Williamite-Jacobite War in Ireland and in Irish as Cogadh an Dá Rí —was a conflict between Catholic King James II and Protestant King William of Orange over who would be King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
(1688 - 1691). The head of the sept at that time, who was killed at the Battle of the Boyne
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
(1690), is said to have been seven feet tall.
The O'Dowd castle was built in Carn Amhalghaigh in 1477. The O'Dowds occupied the castle until the Cromwellian re-conquest. The castle was used as a Williamite military base during the later war and ceased to be inhabited shortly thereafter. A smaller keep was built at Castleconner near Ballina
Ballina, County Mayo
Ballina is a large town in north County Mayo in Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the River Moy near Killala Bay, in the Moy valley and Parish of Kilmoremoy, with the Ox Mountain range to the east and the Nephin Beg mountains to the west...
in 1520 by Conor O'Dowd, the Taoiseach of the time. Both castles are now in ruins.
The noted Irish genealogiest, Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh
Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh
Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh, also known as Dubhaltach Óg mac Giolla Íosa Mór mac Dubhaltach Mór Mac Fhirbhisigh, Duald Mac Firbis, Dudly Ferbisie, and Dualdus Firbissius was an Irish scribe, translator, historian and genealogist...
, was the last of the 'senchai' or hereditary historicans to the family. He was murdered in 1671.
Chief of the Name
- Brian Ó DubhdaBrian Ó Dubhda-From kings to warlords:Brian was the last but one Ó Dubhda till Owen Caech Ó Dubhda to be mentioned in the annals. Tadhg Riabhach Ó Dubhda, the previous Ó Dubhda, was the last one referred to as a king of any territory...
; U1446.4: Brian Ua Dubda was slain by the Tir-Amhalghaidh. - Maol Ruanaidh mac Ruaidhrí Ó DubhdaMaol Ruanaidh mac Ruaidhrí Ó DubhdaMaol Ruanaidh mac Ruaidhrí Ó Dubhda, Chief of the Name and Lord of Tireragh, died c. 1450.Almost the only document dealing with the succession as the Ó Dubhda chief of the name is Araile do fhlathaibh Ua nDubhda, which presents many chronological difficulties...
, d. 1450 (18) - Domhnall Baile Ui Choitil Ó DubhdaDomhnall Baile Ui Choitil Ó DubhdaDomhnall Baile Ui Choitil Ó Dubhda, Chief of the Name and Lord of Tireragh, died c. 1454.Almost the only document dealing with the succession as the Ó Dubhda chief of the name is Araile do fhlathaibh Ua nDubhda, which presents many chronological difficulties...
, 1447-1454 (7) - Tadhg Buidhe mac Tadhg Riabhach Ó DubhdaTadhg Buidhe mac Tadhg Riabhach Ó DubhdaTadhg Buidhe mac Tadhg Riabhach Ó Dubhda, Chief of the Name and Lord of Tireragh, died c. 1457.Almost the only document dealing with the succession as the Ó Dubhda chief of the name is Araile do fhlathaibh Ua nDubhda, which presents many chronological difficulties...
, c. 1454-c.1457 (3) - Seaán Glas mac Tadhg Riabhach Ó DubhdaSeaán Glas mac Tadhg Riabhach Ó DubhdaSeaán Glas mac Tadhg Riabhach Ó Dubhda, Chief of the Name and Lord of Tireragh, died c. 1471.Almost the only document dealing with the succession as the Ó Dubhda chief of the name is Araile do fhlathaibh Ua nDubhda, which presents many chronological difficulties...
, c.1457-71?(14) - Éamonn mac An Cosnamhach Ó DubhdaÉamonn mac An Cosnamhach Ó DubhdaÉamonn mac An Cosnamhach Ó Dubhda was an Irish Chief of the Name and Lord of Tireragh who died c. 1471.Almost the only document dealing with the succession of the Ó Dubhda Chief of the Name is Araile do fhlathaibh Ua nDubhda, which presents many chronological difficulties...
(5 and a half weeks) c. 1466? - Domhnall Ballach Ó DubhdaDomhnall Ballach Ó DubhdaDomhnall Ballach Ó Dubhda, Chief of the Name and Lord of Tireragh, died c. 1472.Almost the only document dealing with the succession as the Ó Dubhda chief of the name is Araile do fhlathaibh Ua nDubhda, which presents many chronological difficulties...
, (1), c. 1472? - Brian Cam mac An Cosnmhach Ó DubhdaBrian Cam mac An Cosnmhach Ó DubhdaBrian Cam mac An Cosnmhach Ó Dubhda, Chief of the Name and Lord of Tireragh, fl c. 1474?Almost the only document dealing with the succession as the Ó Dubhda chief of the name is Araile do fhlathaibh Ua nDubhda, which presents many chronological difficulties...
, (2) c.1472-c.1474? - Eóghan Caoch mac Ruaidhrí Ó DubhdaEóghan Caoch mac Ruaidhrí Ó DubhdaEóghan Caoch mac Ruaidhrí Ó Dubhda, Chief of the Name and Lord of Tireragh, died 1488?Almost the only document dealing with the succession as the Ó Dubhda chief of the name is Araile do fhlathaibh Ua nDubhda, which presents many chronological difficulties...
(14), c. 1474-c.1488? - Uilliam mac Domhnall Ballach Ó Dubhda, (half a year) c. 1488?
- Brian Óg Ó Dubhda, (half a year) c. 1488?
- Donnchadh Ultach Ó Dubhda (1), c. 1489?
- Maghnus mac Tadhg Buidhe Ó Dubhda, (1), c. 1490?
- Owen Caech Ó DubhdaOwen Caech Ó DubhdaOwen Caech Ó Dubhda, Chief of the Name and Lord of Tireragh, died 1495.Owen Caech was the son of a Ruaidhrí Ó Dubhda, though probably not the man who died as king in 1380. The Annals of the Four Masters name him as Owen Caech, the son of Rory O'Dowda, Lord of Tireragh...
, died 1495. - Uilliam Dubh Ó Dubhda, died 1496 (LCe;1496. O'Dubhda, Dubh, i.e. William, the son of Domhnall Ballach, died.)
- Féilim mac Tadhg Buidhe Ó Dubhda, (19), c. 1490?-c. 1509?
- Conchabhar mac Diarmaid mac Maol Ruanaidh Ó Dubhda (30), c. 1509?-c.1549?
- Éoghan mac Conchabhar Ó Dubhda, (7), c. 1549?-1556?
- Cathal Dubh mac Conchabhar Ó Dubhda, c.1556?-?
- Cathal Dubh mac Conchabhar Ó Dubhda, d. 1582.
- Dathí Ruadh Ó Dubhda, d. 1594.
- Dathí mac Dathí Ruadh Ó Dubhda, 1591-c.1660
- Dathí Óge Ó Dubhda, fl. 1656-1705.
- Dominick O'Dowda, d. 1737.
- Thady fitz Dominick O'Dowda, d. 1767.
- James Vippler O'Dowda, Baron O'Dowda, ex. 1798.
- Thady O'Dowd, fl. 1854.
- James Vippler O'Dowd, d. 1865.
- Esme and Abigayle O'Dowd.
- The O'Dowd, fl. 2004.
See also Kings of Ui Fiachrach Muaidhe
Kings of Ui Fiachrach Muaidhe
The Kings of Ui Fiachrach Muaidhe were the northern branch of Ui Fiachrach, based on the plain of the Muaidhe .The early members of the dynasty were Kings of Connacht, but were eclipsed by the Ui Briuin by the 8th century...
O'Dowd Castles
The kingdom of the O'Dowds was ringed by 20 castles, most of which are now in ruins. The location of these castles are as follows: No:1 Lough Conn; No:2 Mount Balcon, River Moy; No:3 Beaufield; No:4 Belleek Castle, Ballina; No:5 Castleconor, River Moy; No:6 Castleton Manor; No:7 Enniscrone; No:8 Carahduff; No:9 Rathlee; No:10 Rosslee, Easkey; No:11 Dromore; No:12 Doonecoy; No:13 Cartron; No:14 Dromard; No:15 Lomford; No:16 Flooneen; No:17 Ballymote; No:18 Markcree; No:19 Lough Gill; No:20 Drumcliff Bay.These castles and ruins were researched and located over many years by the Clan O'Dowd historian, Conor Mac Hale.
The O'Dowdas (O'Dowds) were chieftains of west Sligo in Anglo-Norman times and they built the Castle in Ballina, Co Mayo in 1447. The O'Dowds occupied the castle until the Cromwellian era (17th century). The castle is of three stories. Two of the main features are the subsidiary turrets that are situated on diagonally opposed corners. The outside measurements are approx. 20m in length and 10m wide. The thickness of the walls varies between 1.65m and 2.13m.
The castle has been renovated over the years and two chimneys were added in the seventeenth century. Many of the original archer slits remain intact. After the eviction of the O'Dowds during the Cromwellian Plantation of the 1650s the castle and lands were given to Robert Morgan.
It was used as a military site for the Williamite army during the war between the Catholic King James and the Protestant William of Orange. At the close of the 17th century the castle ceased to be inhabited.
Nottingham O'Dowds
Formed Pre WWI the Nottingham O'Dowds are a large Family, whose siblings increased incrediby. Edward O'Dowds Grandfather moved from Ireland at an unknown date. He went on to marry Lucy and between them had 9 children. Two girls and seven boys, the eldest also named Edward now deceased. Ehe eldest daughter is Joyce followed by Patrick O'Dowd now residing in Southampton.The names of the rest of the Nottingham O'Dowd children are Terry. Peter,Barry Diane Tony and Trevor. There are estimated to be around 20 families of O'Dowd in and around Nottingham to this day. The most famous family being associated with the Nottingham Brady Family.Argentine O'Dowds
There are at least three families named Dowd (or O'Dowd), whose descendants are currently living in ArgentinaArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. One family descends from James Dowd who was born in Dublin in 1828, and who is recorded as marrying Mary Ann Heery. Another family descends from Michael Dowd who was born in Westmeath in 1824, and he is recorded as marrying Eileen Burke. The third family descends from another Michael Dowd who is said to have been born in Ireland in 1804.
New Zealand O'Dowds
The New Zealand branch of the O'Dowds (and Dowds), are descended from Patrick O'Dowd and Anna (née: Kenny). Patrick O'Dowd was born in Easky, Sligo in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1805. He enlisted into the 97th Regiment of Foot (The Earl of Ulster's - also known as the "Celestials" due to the colour of their flashes on their uniforms) in 1824, aged 16.
He was a Private and served 16 years in the British Army, including 11 years with the Regiment in Ceylon. Upon his retirement from the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
he was living in Manchester with his wife Anna and 4 children.
He enlisted into The Royal New Zealand Fencibles (from the word defencible) and sailed for New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
from Gravesend
Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
on the 1 July 1847, with his family aboard the "SS Minerva," arriving in the Port of Auckland 8 October 1847. This was the 2nd Detachment of Fencibles and included 80 Fencibles, 67 wives and 145 children.
There are about 180 families living in New Zealand, mainly in the Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
region who bear the surname O'Dowd or Dowd. Craig Dowd
Craig Dowd
Craig Dowd born 26 October 1969 in Auckland, New Zealand is a former rugby union player and current coach. He played 60 test matches for New Zealand between 1993 and 2000, spending his entire provincial career with Auckland. He spent his entire Super 12 career, 64 matches, with the Auckland Blues,...
the well known All Black is one of these descendants.
Sacramento California America—Kathleen anne julie vivian caro[dowd]
Modern Clan O'Dowd Chieftains
Thomas J Dowds Clan O'Dowd Chieftain 1997-2003Tom Dowds was elected as the Clan Chieftain at the Clan Rally in 1997, and served the Clan in that appointment until 2003. Descended from the O'Dowds of Kilglass, Thomas's grandfather, Patrick left Easkey for Scotland and his father, also Thomas, was born in Glasgow, but the family returned to Ireland and he was brought up in Easkey. The family again moved to Scotland in the 1920s and settled in Govan. Thomas (the Clan Chieftain), was born in England in 1937, but educated in Scotland at St Anthony's Primary and St Gerard's Secondary schools in Govan, before choosing a career in education.
In 1968, Thomas graduated BA (Hons) in Economic History from the University of Strathclyde and gained the Teachers Secondary Certificate from Jordanhill College and the Diploma in Education from the University of Glasgow in 1969.
Thomas married to Cathie (née Harvey) and had two sons and a daughter and three grandchildren. His interest in Irish, and particularly O'Dubhda history resulted in his being one of the first members of the O'Dubhda Clan Association in 1990, and he has attended every rally since. In 1997, he was chosen as the Taoiseach-elect when the Chieftainship was restored, and in September 2000 was inaugurated with Brehon rites at Cahir Mor as The O'Dubhda - the first chief in over 400 years. At the same meeting, Richard F Dowd of New Jersey was chosen as the Tánaiste. During his period in office he has represented the clan at the 1798 Bicentennial celebrations and at the unveiling of the memorial to Baron James O'Dowda, while at the same time making efforts to contact O'Dubhda clansmen worldwide. In September 2003, he handed the white staff of office, the O'Dubhda standard and the Chief's personal pennant to his successor, Richard F. Dowd.
Richard F Dowd Clan O'Dowd Chieftain 2003 -
Richard Dowd is descended from Thomas Dowd, one of a family of brothers who left Ireland to escape the aftermath of the Great Famine. It is believed that the Dowds were originally from Mayo. The family settled in the United States and Richard was born in Brooklyn, New York City of 24 November 1928.
He was educated at St Johns University, New York City and graduated with the degree of BA in 1957. During his career, he undertook further studies at the New York University Graduate School of Business Administration, gaining the degree of MBA in 1964, and PhD in 1976, for a Doctoral Dissertation entitled, "Efficiency in Government Spending."
After serving as an Engineer with the US Merchant Marine (1946-48), Richard moved to United Airlines, where he was a Radio Electric Mechanic from 1951 to 1957. After graduating from university he became a Security Analyst with Merrill Lynch (1957-60) before setting up his own business, R F Dowd & Company Inc, becoming President of the Investment Banking firm. In 1963 he moved to Value Line Investments as a Security Analyst and remained with them until 1965. In 1963, he was aappointed Professor of Economics at the City University of New York, which post he held until his retirement in 1992.
Richard spent many holidays in Ireland and was keen to trace his family's roots, which he discovered lay in the West of Ireland. The founding of the O'Dubhda Clan Association in 1990 was of great interest to him and he was a member right from the start and has not missed one Rally since. At the 1997 Rally, he was elected Tánaiste (Heir) to the Chieftain and was formally installed in that post at Cahir Mor in September 2000. In September 2003, he received the white staff as he was inaugurated as the Taoiseach of the O'Dubhda Clan, and Edward O'Dowd of Chicago was elected Tánaiste.
People
- Anne O'Dowd
- Bernard O'DowdBernard O'DowdBernard Patrick O'Dowd was an Australian activist, educator, poet, journalist, and author of several law books and poetry books. O'Dowd worked as an assistant-librarian and later Chief Parliamentary Draughtsman in the Supreme Court at Melbourne for 48 years;he was also a co-publisher and writer...
- Charles F. DowdCharles F. DowdCharles F. Dowd was a co-principal of the Temple Grove Ladies Seminary in Saratoga Springs, New York. He was the first person to propose multiple time zones for any country, those for the railways of the United States...
- Boy George (George O'Dowd)Boy GeorgeBoy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...
- Chris O'DowdChris O'DowdChris O'Dowd is an Irish comedian and actor. He is best known for playing Roy Trenneman in British sitcom The IT Crowd...
- Fergus O'DowdFergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency, and the Minister of State for the NewEra Project....
- John O'DowdJohn O'DowdJohn O'Dowd MLA is an Irish Sinn Féin politician. He served as acting deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland from 20 September to 31 October 2011, and is also the current Minister for Education. O'Dowd is a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Upper Bann and a councillor on Craigavon...
- Mike O'DowdMike O'DowdMike O'Dowd was the Middleweight Champion of the World from 1917 to 1920. He won the title on November 14, 1917 by knocking out Al McCoy in the sixth round...
- Nace O'Dowd
- Seamie O'DowdSeamie O'DowdSeamie O’Dowd is an Irish musician.He recorded his first solo album, Headful Of Echoes, in 2006. It received critical acclaim from many sources and was playlisted on radio programmes in Ireland, the U.K., mainland Europe and the U.S....
- Niall O'DowdNiall O'DowdNiall 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...
- Craig DowdCraig DowdCraig Dowd born 26 October 1969 in Auckland, New Zealand is a former rugby union player and current coach. He played 60 test matches for New Zealand between 1993 and 2000, spending his entire provincial career with Auckland. He spent his entire Super 12 career, 64 matches, with the Auckland Blues,...
- Peter O'DowdPeter O'DowdJames Peter O'Dowd was an English professional footballer who played as a central defender. He won three caps for the England national football team.-References:...
- Rory Dowd