Loading AI tools
Irish former politician (born 1948) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fergus O'Dowd (born 1 September 1948) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Louth constituency from 2002 to 2024. He was appointed Chair of the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement in September 2020. He previously served as Chair of the Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport from 2017 to 2020 and as a Minister of State from 2011 to 2014.[1][2]
Fergus O'Dowd | |
|---|---|
 O'Dowd in 2013 | |
| Chair of the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement | |
| In office 15 September 2020 – 8 November 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Kathleen Funchion |
| Chair of the Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport | |
| In office 8 July 2017 – 15 September 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Brendan Griffin |
| Succeeded by | Kieran O'Donnell |
| Minister of State | |
| 2011–2014 | Environment, Community and Local Government |
| 2011–2014 | Communications, Energy and Natural Resources |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office May 2002 – November 2024 | |
| Constituency | Louth |
| Senator | |
| In office 17 September 1997 – 17 May 2002 | |
| Constituency | Administrative Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 September 1948 Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Other political affiliations | Labour Party (until 1982) |
| Spouse | Agnes O'Dowd |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Niall O'Dowd (brother) |
| Alma mater | NUI Maynooth |
O'Dowd was born in Thurles, County Tipperary, in 1948. He was educated by the Christian Brothers in Drogheda, County Louth.
He was first elected to Drogheda Town Council in 1974 as a member of the Labour Party, and was elected to Louth County Council in 1979, serving on the county council until 2003. He contested the 1977 general election as a Labour Party candidate, but was not elected. In 1982, O'Dowd left the Labour Party and joined Fine Gael.[3][4] He served three terms as Chairman of Drogheda Town Council: 1977–1978, 1981–1982 and 1994–1995.
A teacher before entering politics, O'Dowd was elected to Seanad Éireann for the Administrative Panel in 1997. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2002 general election, on his fourth attempt.[5] 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 to 2007, and on Transport and Marine from 2007 to 2010. In June 2010, he supported Richard Bruton's leadership challenge to Enda Kenny. Following Kenny's victory in a motion of confidence, O'Dowd was appointed as party spokesperson on Education and Skills.[6]
On 10 March 2011, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with special responsibility for the NewEra Project.[7][2][8] He was dropped as a Minister of State in a reshuffle in July 2014.[9]
On 27 November 2023, O'Dowd announced that he would not contest the next general election.[10]
O'Dowd lives in Drogheda and is married to Agnes O'Dowd; they have three sons. He is a brother of Niall O'Dowd, publisher of the Irish Voice newspaper in New York City.[11] Another brother, Michael O'Dowd, stood against him for Renua at the 2016 general election.[12]
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
