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Dick Dowling (Irish politician)
Encyclopedia
Richard "Dick" Dowling is a Fine Gael
politician from County Kilkenny
in Ireland
. He was a senator
from May to November 1982, and then a Teachta Dála
(TD) from November 1982 to 1987.
Dowling stood unsuccessfully as a Fine Gael candidate for Dáil Éireann
in the Carlow–Kilkenny
constituency at the 1981
and February 1982 general elections, and after his second defeat he was elected to the 16th Seanad on the Labour Panel. He won a Dáil seat on his third attempt at the November 1982 general election, but served only one term and stood down at the 1987 general election
.
He was first elected to Kilkenny County Council
in 1974, and has remained a councillor ever since, currently for the Piltown
electoral area. Dowling's hometown of Newrath is near the county border with County Waterford
, and Waterford
city adjoins the border. The city is seeking to expand northwards across the River Suir
onto land which is part of County Kilkenny
, and has sought a revision of the county boundaries to enable this. Dowling has been a strong opponent of such expansion, describing the county boundary as “sacrosanct”. When the proposal was formally made in 2005, he said “We will not be satisfied with any extension. We will not give an inch.” The plan was rejected by Kilkenny councillors in December that year, but in October 2007 Waterford city council was preparing a revised plan.
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
politician from County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. He was a senator
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
from May to November 1982, and then a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) from November 1982 to 1987.
Dowling stood unsuccessfully as a Fine Gael candidate for Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
in the Carlow–Kilkenny
Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Carlow–Kilkenny is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
constituency at the 1981
Irish general election, 1981
The Irish general election of 1981 was held on 11 June 1981, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 21 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 22nd Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 30 June when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
and February 1982 general elections, and after his second defeat he was elected to the 16th Seanad on the Labour Panel. He won a Dáil seat on his third attempt at the November 1982 general election, but served only one term and stood down at the 1987 general election
Irish general election, 1987
The Irish general election of 1987 was held on 17 February 1987, four weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 20 January. The newly-elected 166 members of the 25th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 10 March when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took place in...
.
He was first elected to Kilkenny County Council
Kilkenny County Council
Kilkenny County council is the local authority for County Kilkenny in Ireland. The council is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The county council has 26 elected members...
in 1974, and has remained a councillor ever since, currently for the Piltown
Piltown
Piltown, historically known as Ballypoyle , is a small village in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It lies on the R698 regional road, which was the N24 national primary road before the locality was bypassed in 2002....
electoral area. Dowling's hometown of Newrath is near the county border with County Waterford
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
, and Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
city adjoins the border. The city is seeking to expand northwards across the River Suir
River Suir
The River Suir is a river in Ireland that flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Waterford after a distance of .Popular with anglers, it holds plentiful reserves of brown trout...
onto land which is part of County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, and has sought a revision of the county boundaries to enable this. Dowling has been a strong opponent of such expansion, describing the county boundary as “sacrosanct”. When the proposal was formally made in 2005, he said “We will not be satisfied with any extension. We will not give an inch.” The plan was rejected by Kilkenny councillors in December that year, but in October 2007 Waterford city council was preparing a revised plan.
External links
- Dick Dowling's page on the Fine Gael website