Ó Dubhda
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O'Dowd ( ga, Ó Dubhda) is an
Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
Gaelic clan based most prominently in what is today County Mayo and
County Sligo County Sligo ( , gle, Contae Shligigh) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the Border Region and is part of the province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the an ...
. The clan name originated in the 9th century as a derivative of its founder Dubda mac Connmhach. They descend in the paternal line from the Connachta's
Uí Fiachrach The Uí Fiachrach () were a royal dynasty who originated in, and whose descendants later ruled, the ''coicead'' or ''fifth'' of Connacht (a western province of Ireland) at different times from the mid-first millennium onwards. They claimed descent ...
. The immediate progenitors of the O'Dowd were
Kings of Connacht The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the ''cóiced'' (variously translated as portion, fifth, province) of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being name ...
during the 7th and 8th centuries in the form of
Dúnchad Muirisci Dúnchad Muirisci mac Tipraite (died 683) was a King of Connacht from the Ui Fiachrach branch of the Connachta. He was of the Ui Fiachrach Muaidhe sept based along the River Moy. This line was descended from Fiachnae, a brother of Ailill Molt ...
,
Indrechtach mac Dúnchado Indrechtach mac Dúnchado Muirisci (died 707) was a King of Connacht from the Ui Fiachrach Muaidhe branch of the Connachta. He was the son of a previous king Dúnchad Muirisci mac Tipraite (died 683). He reigned from 705 to 707. His predecesso ...
,
Ailill Medraige mac Indrechtaig Ailill Medraige mac Indrechtaig (died 764) was a King of Connacht from the Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Indrechtach mac Dúnchado Muirisci (died 707), a previous king and grandson of Dúnchad Muirisci mac Tiprai ...
and Donn Cothaid mac Cathail, before losing ground to their rivals the
Uí Briúin The Uí Briúin were a royal dynasty of Connacht. Their eponymous apical ancestor was Brión, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They formed part of the Connachta, along with the U ...
. Genealogically, they are closely related to the
O'Shaughnessy Ó Seachnasaigh, O'Shaughnessy, collectively Uí Sheachnasaigh, clan name Cinél nAedha na hEchtghe, is a family surname of Irish origin. The name is found primarily in County Galway and County Limerick. Their name derives from Seachnasach ma ...
, MacFirbis, O’Finnerty (Ó Fiannachta) all members of Clan Conway (i.e. Connmhach). Indeed, the O'Dowd were the main patrons of the MacFirbis clan who produced key works of Irish history such as the
Great Book of Lecan The (Great) Book of Lecan (Irish: ''Leabhar (Mór) Leacáin'') (RIA, MS 23 P 2) is a medieval Irish manuscript written between 1397 and 1418 in Castle Forbes, Lecan (Lackan, Leckan; Irish ''Leacán''), in the territory of Tír Fhíacrach, nea ...
and the ''
Leabhar na nGenealach ''Leabhar na nGenealach'' ("Book of Genealogies") is a massive genealogical collection written mainly in the years 1649 to 1650, at the college-house of St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway, by Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh. He continued to add ...
''. From the 8th to the 15th centuries, the O'Dowd were
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 (valley of the River Moy). The early members of the dynasty were Kings of Connacht, but were eclipsed by the Ui Briuin by the 8th centu ...
, a sub-kingdom within the
Kingdom of Connacht The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the ''cóiced'' (variously translated as portion, fifth, province) of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being name ...
. After their realm was incorporated into the Kingdom of Ireland, they were Lord of Tír Fhiacrach


Naming conventions

O'Dowd is the most common anglicisation of the
Irish surname A formal Irish name consists of a given name and a surname. In the Irish language, surnames are generally patronymic in etymology but are no longer literal patronyms as, for example, most Icelandic names still are. The form of a surname varies ...
Ó Dubhda. Other anglicised variants are Dowd, Dawdy, Dowdy, O'Dowda and Dowds, with Doody and Duddy, found around
Killarney Killarney ( ; ga, Cill Airne , meaning 'church of sloes') is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is on the northeastern shore of Lough Leane, part of Killarney National Park, and is home to St Mary's Cathedral, Ross Cast ...
, where a branch of the
Connacht Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms ( Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Del ...
family settled. All are Ó Dubhda (pronounced O Dooda) in
Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
, the root word being "dubh" black. A quite distinct minor
sept A sept is a division of a family, especially of a Scottish or Irish family. The term is used in both Scotland and Ireland, where it may be translated as ''sliocht'', meaning "progeny" or "seed", which may indicate the descendants of a person ...
of Ó Dubhda was located in County Londonderry. Descendants of this sept in
Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kin ...
today are usually anglicised as Duddy, Dowd or Dowds.


Annalistic references

* ''AI1126.12 Ua Dubda, king of Uí Amalgada, was drowned along with the crews of two coracles.'' * ''AI1127.11 Gilla Críst Ua Dubda of Cenél Eógain Aelaig died.''


History

The O'Dowd clan or sept traces its descent from
Fiachrae Fiachrae was an Irish prince, the son of the high king Eochaid Mugmedón (d.362) by his wife Mongfind, sister of Crimthann mac Fidaig (d.367).Francis J.Byrne, ''Irish Kings and High-Kings'', Table 1 He was ancestor of the Uí Fiachrach dynasties ...
, an older half-brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages, through
Nath Í mac Fiachrach Nath Í, also known as Dathí, son of Fiachrae, son of Eochaid Mugmedon, was a semi-historical Irish king of the 5th century, the father of the likely-historical king Ailill Molt and the ancestor of the Uí Fiachrach dynasties of early mediev ...
(aka Dathí), the last pagan High King of Ireland. Irish legend and early texts claim Dathí was killed by a bolt of lightning as he led an army to the foot of the Alps in 455 AD. His grandson Aillil succeeded as
King of Connacht The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the ''cóiced'' (variously translated as portion, fifth, province) of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being named ...
and later
King of Tara The term Kingship of Tara () was a title of authority in ancient Ireland - the title is closely associated with the archaeological complex at the Hill of Tara. The position was considered to be of eminent authority in medieval Irish literature ...
until 482. For centuries they were the leading sept of the northern
Uí Fiachrach The Uí Fiachrach () were a royal dynasty who originated in, and whose descendants later ruled, the ''coicead'' or ''fifth'' of Connacht (a western province of Ireland) at different times from the mid-first millennium onwards. They claimed descent ...
, a tribal group that occupied the modern counties of
Mayo Mayo often refers to: * Mayonnaise, often shortened to "mayo" * Mayo Clinic, a medical center in Rochester, Minnesota, United States Mayo may also refer to: Places Antarctica * Mayo Peak, Marie Byrd Land Australia * Division of Mayo, an Aust ...
and Sligo. The Uí Fiachrach 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 Maritime may refer to: Geography * Maritime Alps, a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps * Maritime Region, a region in Togo * Maritime Southeast Asia * The Maritimes, the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prin ...
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 túatha of
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 ...
and Tír Amhlaidh in Mayo and Tir Fhiacrach Múaidhe in Sligo. They forged a kingdom in
Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe The Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe were a branch of the Uí Fiachrach dynasty of the Connachta in medieval Ireland. They were centred on the Moy River valley of modern-day County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. At its largest extent, their territory, Tír F ...
(Northwest Connacht) which they ringed with 20
castles A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified ...
, often referred to as "10-Pound Castles," and held off all comers for centuries until the incursion of the
Anglo-Normans The Anglo-Normans ( nrf, Anglo-Normaunds, ang, Engel-Norðmandisca) were the medieval ruling class in England, composed mainly of a combination of ethnic Normans, French, Anglo-Saxons, Flemings and Bretons, following the Norman conquest. A sma ...
. 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 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. They were traditionally inaugurated as princes of Ui Fiachrach at Carn Amhalghaigh near
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 (known locally as Enagh Beg), which contains a number of ancient ...
, 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 The Taoiseach is the head of government, or prime minister, of Ireland. The office is appointed by the president of Ireland upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legislature) and the o ...
(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 Ó 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. The last election of an O'Dowd Taoiseach took place in 1595. By this time they were simply a client clan of the O'Connor clan of Sligo. This coincided with the
Nine Years War The Nine Years' War (1688–1697), often called the War of the Grand Alliance or the War of the League of Augsburg, was a conflict between France and a European coalition which mainly included the Holy Roman Empire (led by the Habsburg monarch ...
, when the last independent Irish clans rose to resist English occupation of
Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kin ...
. The clan played an honourable role in the war, assisting
Hugh Roe O'Donnell Hugh Roe O'Donnell ( Irish: ''Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill''), also known as Red Hugh O'Donnell (30 October 1572 – 10 September 1602), was a sixteenth-century leader of the Gaelic nobility of Ireland. He became Chief of the Name of Clan O'Donne ...
, in defending the western border of Ulster from incursions by the
Earl of Essex Earl of Essex is a title in the Peerage of England which was first created in the 12th century by King Stephen of England. The title has been recreated eight times from its original inception, beginning with a new first Earl upon each new cre ...
in 1599 (most probably at the
Battle of Curlew Pass A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
). 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) 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 bishops 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 and, later in the seventeenth century, in Catholic King
James II of England James VII and II (14 October 1633 16 September 1701) was King of England and King of Ireland as James II, and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II, on 6 February 1685. He was deposed in the Glorious Re ...
's army during the
Williamite war in Ireland The Williamite War in Ireland (1688–1691; ga, Cogadh an Dá Rí, "war of the two kings"), was a conflict between Jacobite supporters of deposed monarch James II and Williamite supporters of his successor, William III. It is also called th ...
(1688–1691). The head of the sept at that time, who was killed at the
Battle of the Boyne The Battle of the Boyne ( ga, Cath na Bóinne ) was a battle in 1690 between the forces of the deposed King James II of England and Ireland, VII of Scotland, and those of King William III who, with his wife Queen Mary II (his cousin and J ...
(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 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 (), also known as Dubhaltach Óg mac Giolla Íosa Mór mac Dubhaltach Mór Mac Fhirbhisigh, Duald Mac Firbis, Dudly Ferbisie, and Dualdus Firbissius (fl. 1643 – January 1671) was an Irish scribe, translator, histori ...
, was the last of the 'senchai' or hereditary historicans to the family. He was murdered in 1671.


Chief of the Name

* Brian Ó Dubhda; ''U1446.4: Brian Ua Dubda was slain by the Tir-Amhalghaidh.'' *
Maol Ruanaidh mac Ruaidhrí Ó Dubhda Maol 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 ch ...
, d. 1450 (18) * Domhnall Baile Ui Choitil Ó Dubhda, 1447–1454 (7) * Tadhg Buidhe mac Tadhg Riabhach Ó Dubhda, c. 1454-c.1457 (3) *
Seaán Glas mac Tadhg Riabhach Ó Dubhda Seaán Glas mac Tadhg Riabhach Ó Dubhda (died ) was Chief of the Name and Lord of Tireragh. 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 ch ...
, c.1457–71?(14) * Éamonn mac An Cosnamhach Ó Dubhda (5 and a half weeks) c. 1466? * Domhnall Ballach Ó Dubhda, (1), c. 1472? * Brian Cam mac An Cosnmhach Ó Dubhda, (2) c.1472-c.1474? * Eóghan Caoch mac Ruaidhrí Ó Dubhda (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 Dubhda, died 1495. * Uilliam Dubh Ó Dubhda, died 1496 (LCe;''1496. Ó 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. * John Taaffe O'Dowd, d. 1895. * John Charles Haughton O'Dowd, d. 1916. * Albert Frederick O'Dowd, d. 1941. * Robert Francis O'Dowd, d. 1998. * Robert Frederick O'Dowd, d. 2017. See also
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 (valley of the River Moy). The early members of the dynasty were Kings of Connacht, but were eclipsed by the Ui Briuin by the 8th centu ...


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. Edward O'Dowd's grandfather moved from Ireland at an unknown date. Edward then went on to marry Lucy and between them had 9 children. Two girls and seven boys, the eldest also named Edward. The eldest daughter is Joyce followed by Patrick O'Dowd. The names of the rest of the Nottingham O'Dowd children are Terry, Peter, Barry, Diane, Anthony and Trevor. There are estimated to be around 20 families of O'Dowd in and around Nottingham to this day.


Argentine O'Dowds

There are at least three families named Dowd (or O'Dowd), whose descendants are currently living in
Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
. 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. There is yet another Dowd branch in Argentina, that of Edward O'Dowd, married to Kathleen Lynch in Ireland (date unknown) parents of Edward Michael O'Dowd (born 1856 or 1857 in Westmeath). Edward emigrated to Argentina and settled in Navarro, Provincia de Buenos Aires, working in a farm. He married Mary Kelly Moran (whose parents were William Kelly and Anne Moran, both born in Ireland, emigrated to Argentina) and had 4 children: Anne "Annie" Dowd, Kathleen "Kitty" Dowd, Edward Dowd and John Dowd. Annie, Kitty and John died childless. Edward married Winifred Lucy Reynolds (born in New Zealand April 16, 1898), and died only 53 days later. Fortunately, Winifred was pregnant and gave birth to Eduardo José Dowd on March 31, 1931, who, in turn married Mercedes García (born in Asturias, Spain on December 19, 1931). They had 5 children, who live in Argentina.


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 Ireland 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 The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
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 ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
from Gravesend on 1 July 1847, with his family aboard the "SS Minerva," arriving in the
Port of Auckland Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL), the successor to the Auckland Harbour Board, is the Auckland Council-owned company administering Auckland's commercial freight and cruise ship harbour facilities. As the company operates all of the associated fa ...
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 (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...
region who bear the surname O'Dowd or Dowd.
Craig Dowd Craig Dowd born 26 October 1969 in Auckland, New Zealand is a former rugby union player and ex-coach. He played 60 test matches for New Zealand between 1993 and 2000, spending his entire provincial career with Auckland. He spent his entire Sup ...
the well known
All Black The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987, ...
is one of these descendants.


Modern Clan O'Dowd Chieftains

Thomas J Dowds Clan O'Dowd Chieftain 1997–2003 Tom 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 Ó Dubhda history resulted in his being one of the first members of the Ó 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 Ó 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 Ó Dubhda clansmen worldwide. In September 2003, he handed the white staff of office, the Ó Dubhda standard and the Chief's personal pennant to his successor, Richard F. Dowd. Richard F Dowd Clan O'Dowd Chieftain 2003–2006 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 appointed 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 Ó 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 Ó Dubhda Clan, and Edward O'Dowd of Chicago was elected Tánaiste. Edward P. O'Dowd Clan Ó Dubhda Chieftain 2006–2009 - Chicago, Il. US Michael F Dowd Clan Ó Dubhda Chieftain 2009–2012 Brisbane Qld, Australia In late 1601 Tadgh Bui, Taoiseach (Chieftain) of the Ó Dubhda Clan, rode with his 50 horsemen to Kinsale accompanied by his brother-in-law Red Hugh O'Donnell and his troops to fight the English and expel them from Ireland forever. His cousin O’Neill proceeded to Kinsale with his army separately. The battle lost, Dubhda fled to Kerry where he settled securely with Mt. Brandon at his back, Brandon Bay to the North and East, and impenetrable bogs to the South. His descendants are still there today. Mike Dowd, Irish national, Australian citizen and resident, and descendant of Tadgh Bui was Inaugurated as Taoiseach in 2009. The area where Tadgh Bui settled in Kerry was well known to the Clan for thousands of years and is where King Daithi's Memorial Stone was sourced. Brendan O'Dowd Clan Ó Dubhda Chieftain 2012–2015 Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland Brendan Joseph O'Dowd was born in 1965 and lived at "Greenwood" Culleens, Kilglass. Co. Sligo. Previous to 1798 the family lived in Rathlee, Co. Sligo. (Following the rising in 1798 all Catholic families within one mile of the sea were moved further away in order to prevent another French invasion.) The O'Dowd family moved to Naas, Co Kildare in 1974 where Brendan went to the Christian Brothers School. Later he studied at The University of Liverpool obtaining a BSc. Hons. in diagnostic radiography. He currently works as a radiographer at Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar Co Mayo about forty minutes from his native Kilglass. Brendan has lived and worked in many different countries including London UK, Boston, MA USA, Vancouver BC. Canada. Brendan was elected Taniste of the Ó Dubhda Clan at the 2009 Gathering in Enniscrone, Co. Sligo. He was Inaugurated as Taoiseach of the Ó Dubhda Clan at the 2012 Gathering. While in office as Tánaiste and Taoiseach he organized both the 2012 and 2015 Clan Gatherings and rejoined the Clans of Ireland, representing the Ó Dubhda Clan at Áras an Uachtaráin meeting with President Michael D. Higgins in June 2015. Brendan O'Dowd was succeeded in October 2015 by Andrew Dowds from Glasgow as the current Taoiseach. Andrew Dowds Clan Ó Dubhda Chieftain 2015–2018 Glasgow, Scotland, UK Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1966, Thomas Andrew Dowds is the son of Thomas Dowds, The first Taoiseach of the modern era. His grandfather grew up in Easky and from him he learned stories of the Ó Dubhda Clan. As the son of a history teacher, he was able to research the history of the Ó Dubhda Clan from a very early age. His journeys to Ireland in the 1970s and 80's were punctuated by journeys to graveyards and ruined castles. His passion for history and early Irish history in particular, is second only to his passion for classic cars and motorbikes. As a confirmed 'petrolhead', he has built and restored a number of classic vehicles. He currently lives in Scotland with his wife and son. Kieran O’Dowd Clan Ó Dubhda Chieftain 2018–Present San Francisco, CA. USA Kieran was elected as the first woman Tanaiste' at the 2015 Gathering in Enniscrone, Co. Sligo. and was inaugurated as the clan Taoiseach on 6 October 2018. She holds the distinction of being the first female chieftain of the Ó Dubhda Clan. As the Tanaiste', she was the planner for the 2018 clan Gathering – promoting the Gathering and was instrumental in bringing the clan into the 21st century with online registration. The daughter of Paul and Judy O'Dowd of San Francisco (great granddaughter of Thomas Paul O'Dowd former Supervisor of the City of San Francisco), Kieran grew up living around the world with her parents and three brothers as her father was a career Army officer. After graduating from university, Kieran worked as a civil servant for many years and currently works for a major US airline. Her passion is spreading the word about the Ó Dubhda Clan – inspiring clan members to participate in the history of the Ó Dubhda Clan no matter where they reside and the history and culture of the Emerald Isle. Kieran currently makes Fort Wayne, Indiana (USA) her home.


Arms

O'Hart records two arms for members of the family. 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)"Irish pedigrees: or, The origin and stem of the Irish nation, volume 2" by John O'Hart (page 329), James Duffy and Co. Limited, 5th Edition, 1892. * 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''


People

''For people named Dowd please see
Dowd Dowd is a derivation of an ancient surname once common in Ireland but now not readily found. The name Dowd is an Anglicisation of the original Ó Dubhda (pronounced ), through its more common form O'Dowd. The Uí Dubhda are one of the Clann Uí Fia ...
'' * Alex O'Dowd (1967), professional first-class rugby coach and former New Zealand first-class cricketer * Anna Mae O'Dowd, former professional baseball player *
Bernard O'Dowd Bernard Patrick O'Dowd (11 April 1866 – 1 September 1953) was an Australian poet, activist, lawyer, and journalist. He worked for the Victorian colonial and state governments for almost 50 years, first as an assistant librarian at the Supreme ...
(1866–1953) Australian activist, educator, poet, journalist and author *
Boy George George Alan O'Dowd (born 14 June 1961), known professionally as Boy George, is an English singer, songwriter, DJ, author and mixed media artist. Best known for his soulful voice and his androgynous appearance, Boy George has been the lead singer ...
(born George Alan O'Dowd, 1961), British singer-songwriter * Cathy O'Dowd, South African rock climber, mountaineer, author and motivational speaker *
Chris O'Dowd Christopher O'Dowd (born 9 October 1979) is an Irish actor and comedian. He received wide attention as Roy Trenneman, one of the lead characters in the Channel 4 comedy ''The IT Crowd'', which ran for four series between 2006 and 2010. He has ...
(1979), Irish actor and comedian * Christopher O'Dowd (1920–1943), founding member of the British SAS. * Colin O'Dowd (1966), Irish physicist and atmospheric scientist * Dan O'Dowd (1959), former
general manager A general manager (GM) is an executive who has overall responsibility for managing both the revenue and cost elements of a company's income statement, known as profit & loss (P&L) responsibility. A general manager usually oversees most or all of ...
of the Colorado Rockies * David O'Dowd (1942), former chief inspector of constabulary for England and Wales * Donald O'Dowd (1927), American academic * Fergus O'Dowd (1948), Irish
Fine Gael Fine Gael (, ; English: "Family (or Tribe) of the Irish") is a liberal-conservative and Christian-democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil ...
politician * James Cornelius O'Dowd (1829–1903), Anglo-Irish barrister and deputy judge advocate general *
James Thomas O'Dowd James Thomas O'Dowd (August 4, 1907 – February 4, 1950) was a bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco from 1948 to 1950. Biography Born in San Francisco, Californi ...
(1907–1950), a bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States * John Dowd (born John Leo O'Dowd (1891–1981)), Major League Baseball shortstop *
John O'Dowd John Fitzgerald O'Dowd (born 10 May 1967) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician. He was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Upper Bann since 2003. He was previously the Minister for Infrastructure from May to October 2022 and the Mi ...
(1856–1937), Irish Nationalist Member of Parliament for North Sligo *
John O'Dowd John Fitzgerald O'Dowd (born 10 May 1967) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician. He was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Upper Bann since 2003. He was previously the Minister for Infrastructure from May to October 2022 and the Mi ...
(1967), Irish
Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( , ; en, " eOurselves") is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active throughout both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur G ...
politician * Ken O'Dowd (1950), Australian politician * Kevin O'Dowd, New Jersey public servant and political figure *
Kris O'Dowd Kristofer O'Dowd (born May 14, 1988) is a former American football center. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football for the University of Southern California. High school career O'Dowd ...
(1988), former American football center *
Max O'Dowd Maxwell Patrick O'Dowd (born 4 March 1994) is a Dutch international cricketer who made his debut for the Netherlands national cricket team in June 2015. He is a right-handed opening batsman and has played for the Netherlands in three editions of ...
(1994), international cricketer playing for the Netherlands *
Mick O'Dowd Mick O'Dowd is a former Gaelic footballer and former senior manager for Meath. O'Dowd previously managed his local club Skryne to success in 2004. He was also a member of the panel in 2001 who were defeated by Galway Galway ( ; ga, ...
, former Gaelic footballer and former senior manager for Meath *
Mike O'Dowd Michael Joseph O'Dowd (April 5, 1895 in St. Paul, Minnesota – July 28, 1957) was an American boxer who held the World Middleweight Championship from 1917 to 1920. Biography O'Dowd won the title on November 14, 1917 by knocking out Al McCo ...
(1895–1957), American middleweight boxer * Nace O'Dowd (1931–1987), Gaelic footballer who played for the County Sligo team in the 1950s *
Niall O'Dowd Niall O'Dowd (born 18 May 1953) in County Tipperary, Ireland, is an Irish American journalist and author living in the United States. He was involved in the negotiations leading to the Northern Irish Good Friday Peace Agreement. He is founder ...
(1953), Irish journalist and author living in the United States *
Patrick O'Dowd Patrick Joseph O'Dowd (1 March 1892 – 19 June 1968) was an Irish politician and medical practitioner. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Roscommon constituency at the June 1927 general electio ...
(1968), Irish politician and medical practitioner * Peter O'Dowd (1908–1964), English professional footballer * Robert Dowd (1936–1996) (aka Robert O'Dowd), American artist *
Seamie O'Dowd Seamie O’Dowd is an Irish musician. Biography Seamie O Dowd is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter who also plays fiddle, harmonica, mandolin, and a number of other instruments. He has travelled worldwide playing music and has shared stages ...
, Irish folk musician, Cty Sligo *
Timmy O'Dowd Timothy O'Dowd (born 1963) is an Irish retired Gaelic footballer. His league and championship career with the Kerry senior team spanned six seasons from 1983 to 1988. Born in Tralee, County Kerry, O'Dowd was born into a strong Gaelic football ...
(1963), Irish Gaelic footballer who played for the County Kerry team *Thomas Paul O'Dowd (1886–1930), superintendent, City of San Francisco, California, US * Tony O'Dowd (1970), Irish soccer player who played for Leeds Utd and Rep. of Ireland U 21's


References

* "The Ó Dubhda Family History" By Conor MacHale, Clan O'Dowd Historian, Inniscrone, 1990. * "The Royal New Zealand Fencibles 1847–1852," , Ruth Alexander, Alan la Roche, Gail Gibson. The New Zealand Fencible Society (Inc), 1997. O'Dowd family papers.


External links


O'Dowd family pedigree
at Library Ireland
Genelach hI Dubda

A website of the O'Dowd, Ó Dubhda etc.. containing information and resource and where the Clan gatherings in Ireland are organised. Previous Clan gatherings documented

A good genealogy of the O'Dowds

More details of the O'Dowds and many more Dowd stories


*https://odubhdaclan.com/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Odowd Anglicised Irish-language surnames Irish families Ancient Irish dynasties