Dowdall family of Stillorgan
James Dowdall married Maria Rourke
born 1847 3 Oct 1882 born 1860
Co Dublin Saggart Co Wicklow
died 27 Dec 1913 died 9 Aug 1939
Rathcoole Rathcoole
James Dowdall, son of Christopher Dowdle a farmer from Rathcoole married Maria Rourke from Co
Wicklow at Saggart Parish Church on 3 Oct 1882. Maria was living at College Lane, working as a
housemaid and was the daughter of James Rorke, a herd. They had 10 children, all of whom survived
until 1911. It is thought one or more of their children emigrated to Australia. James died 27 Dec 1913
and was buried at Rathmore cemetery in Rathcoole. Maria died 9 Aug 1939 at The Hill, Rathcoole and
was buried with her husband.
1 Christopher Dowdall born 13 Dec 188 at Rathcoole.
2 James Dowdall born 27 May 1886 at Rathcoole married Elena Angela (Helena) Mulhare at John
the Baptist Church, Blackrock on 4 Feb 1918. James worked as a provisions dealer’s assistant
and joined the DMP on 19 Feb 1909. Helena was the daughter of Bernard Mulhare, Sergeant
DMP of 7 Sydney Avenue, Blackrock and Elizabeth Keogh. By 1923 James had retired from the
DMP and was running a dairy in Stillorgan. In 1924 James Dowdall and ex DMP Constable was
accused of being behind an attack on School teacher Frank O’Gorman and had paid three
men to attack him. Helena worked with Frank as an assistant teacher at Stillorgan National
School. There were rumours of an affair, but it transpired that there had been bad feeling
between Frank and Helena as she had given the teacher’s lavatory key to the pupils so that
they could use it as the children’s lavatory was not in working order. Frank had berated Helena
for this, and her husband who was extremely annoyed, called to the school and created a
scene. The three men involved in the attack were charged and sentenced. James Dowdall was
charged and found not guilty of any involvement. In later life James took up gardening and
sold vegetables from Stillorgan Park. James died 3 Feb 1961 aged 74 at Lisieux, Stillorgan Park.
Helena died 23 Apr 1975 aged 82 at Stillorgan Park. Both were buried at Deansgrange.
1 James Joseph Dowdall born 17 Jan 1919 at Grove View Stillorgan joined the Army as a
cadet. He received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant from Oscar Traynor, Minister of
Defence in 1941.
2 Bernard Patrick Dowdall born 7 Mar 1920 at Grove View Stillorgan.
3 Christopher Anthony Dowdall born 22 Jun 1921 at Grove View Stillorgan.
4 Hugh Mary Dowdall died 1 Jul 1928 aged 5 ½ at Grove View, Stillorgan and was buried at
Deansgrange.
5 William Augustine Dowdall died 10 Mar 1924 at Grove View aged 6 weeks and was buried
at Deansgrange.
3 Mary Jane Dowdall born 10 Jul 1889 at Rathcoole married James J Meegan at Newcastle Parish
Church on 3 Feb 1915. James was a farmer from Crooksling and the son of John Meegan, a
farmer.
4 Joseph Dowdall born circa 1889 in County Dublin was a shop assistant and married Esther
Farrell on 25 Jan 1915 at Maynooth Parish Church. Esther was the daughter of James Farrell, a
mason.
5 Patrick Dowdall born circa 1892 in Co Dublin.
6 William Dowdall born 26 Mar 1893 at Rathcoole.
7 Thomas Dowdall born 1 Mar 1895 at Rathcoole.
8 Elizabeth (Lizzy) Dowdall born 12 Jun 1896 at Rathcoole.
9 Eugene Dowdall born 1 Jun 1899 at Rathcoole.
10 Maria Dowdall born 9 Aug 1901 at Rathcoole died 14 May 1973 and was buried with her
parents.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – March 2022
James Dowdall married Maria Rourke
born 1847 3 Oct 1882 born 1860
Co Dublin Saggart Co Wicklow
died 27 Dec 1913 died 9 Aug 1939
Rathcoole Rathcoole
James Dowdall, son of Christopher Dowdle a farmer from Rathcoole married Maria Rourke from Co
Wicklow at Saggart Parish Church on 3 Oct 1882. Maria was living at College Lane, working as a
housemaid and was the daughter of James Rorke, a herd. They had 10 children, all of whom survived
until 1911. It is thought one or more of their children emigrated to Australia. James died 27 Dec 1913
and was buried at Rathmore cemetery in Rathcoole. Maria died 9 Aug 1939 at The Hill, Rathcoole and
was buried with her husband.
1 Christopher Dowdall born 13 Dec 188 at Rathcoole.
2 James Dowdall born 27 May 1886 at Rathcoole married Elena Angela (Helena) Mulhare at John
the Baptist Church, Blackrock on 4 Feb 1918. James worked as a provisions dealer’s assistant
and joined the DMP on 19 Feb 1909. Helena was the daughter of Bernard Mulhare, Sergeant
DMP of 7 Sydney Avenue, Blackrock and Elizabeth Keogh. By 1923 James had retired from the
DMP and was running a dairy in Stillorgan. In 1924 James Dowdall and ex DMP Constable was
accused of being behind an attack on School teacher Frank O’Gorman and had paid three
men to attack him. Helena worked with Frank as an assistant teacher at Stillorgan National
School. There were rumours of an affair, but it transpired that there had been bad feeling
between Frank and Helena as she had given the teacher’s lavatory key to the pupils so that
they could use it as the children’s lavatory was not in working order. Frank had berated Helena
for this, and her husband who was extremely annoyed, called to the school and created a
scene. The three men involved in the attack were charged and sentenced. James Dowdall was
charged and found not guilty of any involvement. In later life James took up gardening and
sold vegetables from Stillorgan Park. James died 3 Feb 1961 aged 74 at Lisieux, Stillorgan Park.
Helena died 23 Apr 1975 aged 82 at Stillorgan Park. Both were buried at Deansgrange.
1 James Joseph Dowdall born 17 Jan 1919 at Grove View Stillorgan joined the Army as a
cadet. He received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant from Oscar Traynor, Minister of
Defence in 1941.
2 Bernard Patrick Dowdall born 7 Mar 1920 at Grove View Stillorgan.
3 Christopher Anthony Dowdall born 22 Jun 1921 at Grove View Stillorgan.
4 Hugh Mary Dowdall died 1 Jul 1928 aged 5 ½ at Grove View, Stillorgan and was buried at
Deansgrange.
5 William Augustine Dowdall died 10 Mar 1924 at Grove View aged 6 weeks and was buried
at Deansgrange.
3 Mary Jane Dowdall born 10 Jul 1889 at Rathcoole married James J Meegan at Newcastle Parish
Church on 3 Feb 1915. James was a farmer from Crooksling and the son of John Meegan, a
farmer.
4 Joseph Dowdall born circa 1889 in County Dublin was a shop assistant and married Esther
Farrell on 25 Jan 1915 at Maynooth Parish Church. Esther was the daughter of James Farrell, a
mason.
5 Patrick Dowdall born circa 1892 in Co Dublin.
6 William Dowdall born 26 Mar 1893 at Rathcoole.
7 Thomas Dowdall born 1 Mar 1895 at Rathcoole.
8 Elizabeth (Lizzy) Dowdall born 12 Jun 1896 at Rathcoole.
9 Eugene Dowdall born 1 Jun 1899 at Rathcoole.
10 Maria Dowdall born 9 Aug 1901 at Rathcoole died 14 May 1973 and was buried with her
parents.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – March 2022