John O'Dowd | |
|---|---|
) | |
| Minister for Education | |
| In office 16 May 2011 – 25 May 2016 | |
| First Minister | Peter Robinson Arlene Foster |
| Deputy First Minister | Martin McGuinness |
| Preceded by | Caitríona Ruane |
| Succeeded by | Peter Weir |
| Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Acting | |
| In office 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 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Fitzgerald O'Dowd 10 May 1967 Tullylish, County Down, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Sinn Féin |
| Spouse(s) | Mary O'Dowd |
| Children | 3 |
| Occupation | Politician |
John Fitzgerald O'Dowd (born 10 May 1967) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician. He was the Minister for Education in the Stormont Executive from 2011 to 2016 and the Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Upper Bann since 2003. He briefly took on the duties of deputy First Minister in 2011 while Martin McGuinness ran in the 2011 Irish presidential election.
Early career
O'Dowd was born in 1967 in Tullylish, a rural community between Lurgan and Banbridge.[1] He had trained as a chef before engaging in politics.[2] He began his political career serving for 14 years as a councillor on Craigavon Borough Council and previously served as a school governor.[3] 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.[3] 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.[1]
Acting deputy First Minister
Following the decision by Sinn Féin to nominate Martin McGuinness as its candidate in the 2011 Irish presidential election, it was announced on 16 September 2011 that O'Dowd would be fulfil the duties of deputy First Minister on a temporary basis.[4]
Personal life
O'Dowd is married and has three children.[1]
References
- ^ a b c "Minister for Education". Department for Education, Northern Ireland. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
- ^ "Remarkable year for new deputy first minister John O'Dowd". BBC.
- ^ a b "Upper Bann – John O'Dowd | Sinn Féin". Sinn Féin.
- ^ John O'Dowd. "UTV News – O'Dowd ready for acting DFM role". UTV. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012.
| Northern Ireland Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dara O'Hagan | MLA for Upper Bann 2003–present | Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Caitríona Ruane | Minister of Education 2011–2016 | Succeeded by Peter Weir |
| Preceded by Martin McGuinness | Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Acting 2011 | Succeeded by Martin McGuinness |