Fergus O'Dowd
Fergus O'Dowd is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been a Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency since the 2002 general election. He was appointed Chair of the Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport in July 2017. He previously served as Minister of State for the NewEra Project from 2011 to 2014.
O'Dowd was born in Thurles, County Tipperary, in 1948. He was educated by the Christian Brothers in Drogheda, County Louth. He lives in the town. He served three terms as Chairman of Drogheda Town Council: 1977–78, 1981–82 and 1994–95. He served on Louth County Council between 1979 and 2003.
O'Dowd is married to Agnes O'Dowd and they have three sons. He is a brother of Niall O'Dowd, publisher of the Irish Voice newspaper in New York City. Another brother, Michael O'Dowd, stood against him for Renua at the 2016 general election. Yet another brother lives in France.
A teacher before entering politics, O'Dowd was elected to Seanad Éireann as a Senator for the Administrative Panel in 1997. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2002 general election, on his fourth attempt. 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.
On 10 March 2011, he was appointed as Minister of State for the NewEra Project. He was dropped as a Minister of State in a reshuffle in July 2014.
