O'Dowd family genealogy

Princes of Hy-Fiachra, in Connaught

[1] Arms: Vert a saltire or, in chief two swords in saltire, points upwards, the dexter surmounted of the sinister ar. pommels and hilts gold.

FIACHRA Ealg, brother of Eocha Breac who is No. 89 on the "O'Shaughnessy" pedigree, was the ancestor of O'Dubhda; anglicised Doody, Dowd, Dowde, O'Dowd, and O'Dowda.

89. Fiachra Ealg: son of Dathi, the 127th Monarch of Ireland.

90. Maoldubh: his son.

91. Tiobrad: his son; had a younger brother named Tiomain Murios.

92. Donoch: son of Tiobrad.

93. Olioll: his son.

94. Cathal: his son.

95. Duncatha: his son.

96. Conmac: his son. This Conmac had two sons—1. Dubhda; 2. Caomhan (" caomh:" Irish, gentle; Arab. " kom," noble; Lat. " com-is,") who was the ancestor of O'Caomhain. (See the "Coen" pedigree).

97. Dubhda ("dubhda:" Irish, dark-complexioned): son of Conmac; a quo O'Dubhda.

98. Ceallach: his son.

99. Aodh (or Hugh): his son.

100. Maolruanaidh [mulroona]: his son.

101. Malachi: his son; had a brother named Donall.

102. Niall (or Neal): his son.

103. Talach: his son.

104. Hugh (2): his son.

105. Murtagh: his son.

106. Hugh, (3): his son.

107. Talach (2): his son.

108. Hugh (4): his son.

109. Donoch: his son.

110. Mulroona: his son.

111. Talach (3): his son.

112. Brian: his son.

113. Donall: his son.

114. Roger O'Dowd: his son. This Roger had two brothers—1. Teige Ruadh [roe]; 2. Malachi.

Notes

[1] O'Dowd: Of this ancient family is (in 1887) the Rev. Patrick Dowd, the venerable pastor of St. Patrick's, Montreal, Canada; whose Golden Jubilee was on the Feast of the Ascension, in May last, celebrated by the Irish Catholics of Montreal.

The Reverend Patrick Dowd was born in 1813, of respectable and well-to-do parents, at the inland village of Dunleer, county Louth, Ireland, and is consequently seventy-four years of age. From his earliest childhood he was remarkable for his piety, and his heart continually burned with an ardent desire to give his life up in the service of God. His good parents were not slow in noticing this, and immediately sent him to pursue his classical studies at Newry college, after which the young ecclesiastic was sent to study theology in the Irish college at Paris. In 1837 he saw his fondest hopes realized, and was ordained priest by the Archbishop of Paris, Monseigneur Quelen.

The young priest returned to his native land soon after his ordination, and pursued his priestly functions for ten years in different sections of the country. In 1847 he joined the illustrious order of St. Sulpice, of which he is to-day one of the most esteemed members, and in 1848 he bade an affectionate farewell to the green hills of his beloved Ireland, and set sail for distant Canada. After a long passage Father Dowd landed in Montreal, a very small town at that remote date, and immediately after entered upon his ministerial duties in connection with St. Patrick's Church. For nearly forty years this distinguished clergyman has been working assiduously for the spiritual and temporal welfare of the people of St. Patrick's parish, as well as to the Irish citizens in general throughout Montreal, who have known him so long and so well.

The year after his arrival in this country Father Dowd founded the St. Patrick's Orphan Asylum, which is to-day a splendid monument to the untiring devotion and charitable instincts of the aged priest. St. Bridget's Home and the Night Refuge were established through his energy in 1865, and the present commodious Home and Refuge on Lagauchetiere-street, built in 1866-67, and the handsome building known as the St. Patrick's School. Such are the buildings which owe their inception to the man whom his admiring countrymen have more than once designated Montreal's Irish Bishop.

Father Dowd has been repeatedly offered the highest dignities of the Church, but has always declined them, preferring to remain with his St. Patrick's congregation rather than wear the mitre—the Sees of Kingston and Toronto having been offered to him.

In 1877 he organized the great Irish pilgrimage to Lourdes and Rome, and everyone can recollect the painful anxiety that was felt when the vessel carrying the pilgrims and their beloved pastor was not heard of for several agonizing weeks. Prayers were offered in all churches without distinction of creed, a pleasing proof of the high appreciation in which the esteemed pastor is held by even those disbelieving in Catholicism. Father Dowd has more than once earned for himself the gratitude of his fellow-citizens by the loyal stand he has taken when the law of the land was menaced or when constituted authority was set at defiance, and the grandeur of his jubilee celebration to-day will be a fitting testimonial of the esteem in which he is held.

In the Note "Insurrection" (of 1798) under Thomas O'Cahan, No. 125 on the "Caine" pedegree, p. 373, ante, we mention about the Battle of Ballinamuck, and the chains of the French Magazine having been stolen by Keegan. A circumstance that occurred after that Battle was the hanging of a Mayo gentleman named Captain O'Dowd, a member of this family. When on the cart (for a cart was the scaffold employed on the occasion), Duke Crofton, of Mohill Castle, a royalist, addressing O'Dowd, said: "You have brought yourself to a nice pitch. I believe you're a gentleman, and that your father keeps a pack" (of hounds). O'Dowd replied: "Yes he keeps three packs, and his whippers-in are better gentlemen than you." Continuing, he said: "As I have to die, I shan't die like a trooper." His hands and arms were tied, yet he succeeded in removing his boots—one foot assisting the other. "Now," he said, "I am ready!"

David, the eldest son of David, THE O'DOWD, was an officer in the Irish Army of King James II., and was slain at the Battle of the Boyne. In stature he was more than seven feet. (All the O'Dowds, including the females, even to the present day are extra tall.)

James, next son of the THE O'DOWD, fought at the Boyne, Athlone, and Augh rim, where he was killed. When found among the dead, his hand was so swollen, that the guard of his sword had to be filed, before the hand could be extricated therefrom.