Jane Dowdall (; 29 September 1899 – 10 December 1974) was an Irish
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil (, ; meaning 'Soldiers of Destiny' or 'Warriors of Fál'), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party ( ga, audio=ga-Fianna Fáil.ogg, Fianna Fáil – An Páirtà Poblachtánach), is a conservative and Christia ...
politician, philanthropist, nurse and company director.
Early life and family
Born Jane Doggett on 29 September 1899 at 28
Smithfield, Dublin
Smithfield () is an area on the Northside of Dublin. Its focal point is a public square, formerly an open market and common, now officially called Smithfield Plaza, but known locally as Smithfield Square or Smithfield Market. Historically, Smit ...
. She was the daughter of eating-house keeper Michael Doggett and Mary Ellen Doggett (née Andrews). Dowdall went to work as a nurse at
St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin after leaving school, and became an active member of the
Gaelic League
(; historically known in English as the Gaelic League) is a social and cultural organisation which promotes the Irish language in Ireland and worldwide. The organisation was founded in 1893 with Douglas Hyde as its first president, when it emer ...
.
[ She married James Charles Dowdall in October 1929, and the couple moved to Cork. They were close friends with ]Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera (, ; first registered as George de Valero; changed some time before 1901 to Edward de Valera; 14 October 1882 – 29 August 1975) was a prominent Irish statesman and political leader. He served several terms as head of govern ...
, who was godfather to their son, Finbarr.[
]
Political career
After the death of her husband in 1939, she became active in local organisations such as the Irish Country Women's Association, the Penny Dinners and the Society of St Vincent de Paul. In 1945 she was appointed to the management committee of Cork's South Infirmary, going on to become a trustee. She went on to become a member of the Cork health authority and the Cork hospitals' committee, and was one of the founding members of the Women's Industrial Development Association.[
She was elected to ]Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann (, ; "Senate of Ireland") is the upper house of the Oireachtas (the Irish legislature), which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann (the lower house).
It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its memb ...
on the Industrial and Commercial Panel
The Industrial and Commercial Panel ( ga, An Rolla Tionscail Agus Tráchtála) is one of five vocational panels which together elect 43 of the 60 members of Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas (the legislature of Ireland). The In ...
at the 1951 election, and was re-elected in 1954 and 1957. While in the Seanad she expressed her support for the ban on married women working in the civil service. She was variously appointed director of the Cancer Association of Ireland, a government nominee on the central council of the Irish Red Cross Society, the first treasurer of the Fresh Air Fund, an executive member of the Irish tourist board, and a director of St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin.[
Dowdall was the first female member of ]Cork City Council
Cork City Council ( ga, Comhairle Cathrach ChorcaÃ) is the authority responsible for local government in the city of Cork in Ireland. As a city council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. Prior to the enactment of the 2001 Act, t ...
and on 24 June 1959 became the first female Lord Mayor of Cork
The Lord Mayor of Cork ( ga, Ard-Mhéara Chathair ChorcaÃ) is the honorific title of the Chairperson ( ga, Cathaoirleach) of Cork City Council which is the local government body for the city of Cork in Ireland. The office holder is elected annu ...
, serving until 1960. During her time in office she ensured a government grant to the Cork Opera House
Cork Opera House is a theatre and opera house in Cork in Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the Nort ...
, and was vital to the passing of a private member's bill which gave Cork corporation the power to further fund the Opera House. In 1959, she was a co-founder and patron of the Irish Theatre Ballet Company, served as president of the Cork Orchestral Society and as patron of the Cork Ballet Company. She was a member of the Cork city vocational education committee, lending her support to the School of Music and the School of Art, and a member of the Cork Tóstal Council. She was invited to New York by Mayor Robert Wagner
Robert John Wagner Jr. (born February 10, 1930) is an American actor of stage, screen, and television. He is known for starring in the television shows '' It Takes a Thief'' (1968–1970), ''Switch'' (1975–1978), and '' Hart to Hart'' (1979†...
in 1960 as a guest of honour at the St Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick ( ga, Lá Fhéile Pádraig, lit=the Day of the Festival of Patrick), is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (), the foremost patr ...
parade alongside Governor Nelson Rockefeller.[
Dowdall was defeated at the 1961 Seanad election,] but went on to be one of the first women to sit on the council of state from 1964 to 1974.[
]
Death and legacy
Dowdall lived at Carrigduv, Blackrock, Cork, later retiring to Glanmire
Glanmire () is a suburban town from Cork city centre, in the civil parish of Rathcooney, County Cork, Ireland. Glanmire is within the administrative area of Cork City Council and the Dáil constituency of Cork North-Central.
The greater Gl ...
, County Cork, and then to Mill House, Kilcully, County Cork. She died in Cork on 10 December 1974.[
In 2018, a portrait of her by Soirle MacCana was donated to Cork City Hall to mark 100 years since ]women's suffrage
Women's suffrage is the right of women to vote in elections. Beginning in the start of the 18th century, some people sought to change voting laws to allow women to vote. Liberal political parties would go on to grant women the right to vot ...
.[
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dowdall, Jane
1899 births
1974 deaths
Fianna Fáil senators
Members of the 7th Seanad
Members of the 8th Seanad
Members of the 9th Seanad
20th-century women members of Seanad Éireann
Local councillors in Cork (city)
Lord Mayors of Cork
Women mayors of places in Ireland
Presidential appointees to the Council of State (Ireland)