John Fitzgerald O'Dowd (born 10 May 1967) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician. He has been a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Upper Bann since 2003.[1] He has served as Minister for Infrastructure from May to October 2022, and again since 2024. He served as Minister for Education in the Stormont Executive from 2011 to 2016. He briefly took on the duties of deputy First Minister in 2011 while Martin McGuinness ran in the 2011 Irish presidential election.
John O'Dowd | |
|---|---|
 O'Dowd in 2021 | |
| Minister for Infrastructure | |
| Assumed office 3 February 2024 | |
| First Minister | Michelle O'Neill |
| Preceded by | Himself (2022) |
| In office 16 May 2022 – 27 October 2022 | |
| First Minister | Vacant |
| Preceded by | Nichola Mallon |
| Succeeded by | Himself (2024) |
| Minister for Education | |
| In office 16 May 2011 – 25 May 2016 | |
| First Minister | Peter Robinson |
| Preceded by | Caitríona Ruane |
| Succeeded by | Peter Weir |
| Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland | |
| Acting 20 September 2011 – 31 October 2011 Serving with Peter Robinson | |
| Preceded by | Martin McGuinness |
| Succeeded by | Martin McGuinness |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Upper Bann | |
| Assumed office 26 November 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Dara O'Hagan |
| Member of Craigavon Borough Council | |
| In office 21 May 1997 – 5 May 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Brendan McConville |
| Succeeded by | Mairéad O'Dowd |
| Constituency | Loughside |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Fitzgerald O'Dowd 10 May 1967 Tullylish, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Sinn Féin |
| Spouse | Mary O'Dowd |
| Children | 3 |
| Occupation | Politician |
In 2019, O'Dowd launched an unsuccessful bid to unseat Michelle O'Neill as Vice President of Sinn Féin at the party's ard fheis and received the endorsement of Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew. However, he refused to give media interviews to explain his decision to challenge O'Neill.[2]
Early career
editO'Dowd was born in 1967 in Tullylish, a rural community between Lurgan and Banbridge.[3] He had trained as a chef before engaging in politics.[4] He began his political career serving for 14 years as a councillor on Craigavon Borough Council and previously served as a school governor.[5] O'Dowd has served as Chair of Upper Bann Sinn Féin and a member of the party's Six County Executive, O'Dowd was leader of the Sinn Féin group on Craigavon Council.[5] In 2003 he was elected as MLA for Upper Bann and in 2005 unsuccessfully contested the same-named Westminster constituency. Between 2007 and 2011 he was Sinn Féin group leader in the Assembly and served as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee before becoming a member of the Education Committee in 2008.[3]
On the 13 May 2022, he was confirmed as the 'caretaker' Infrastructure Minister replacing Nichola Mallon of the SDLP who failed to retain her seat in the previous week's election. He took office on 16 May 2022.[6]
Acting deputy First Minister
editAfter Sinn Féin nominated Martin McGuinness as its candidate in the 2011 Irish presidential election, O'Dowd took over the duties of deputy First Minister on a temporary basis from 20 September to 31 October 2011.[7]
Personal life
editO'Dowd is married and has three children.[3]
References
edit- ^ Ferguson, Amanda (13 May 2022). "Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill says everyone else turned up. The public deserves politicians working together, and a budget. Regret DUP have stopped the rest of us. John O'Dowd is new Infrastructure Minister". Twitter. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Sinn Féin: Michelle O'Neill sees off John O'Dowd's bid for vice-presidency". BBC News. 16 November 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ a b c "Minister for Education". Department for Education, Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
- ^ "Remarkable year for new deputy first minister John O'Dowd". BBC News. 21 September 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Upper Bann – John O'Dowd | Sinn Féin". Sinn Féin. Archived from the original on 4 May 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
- ^ McCormack, Jayne (16 May 2022). "Sinn Féin's John O'Dowd made NI infrastructure minister". BBC News. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ John O'Dowd. "UTV News – O'Dowd ready for acting DFM role". UTV. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012.