Very Rev. John Dowley

Very Rev. John Dowley was appointed to Dunhill/Fenor on January 3, 1875. He built the Parochial House in Dunhill, Dunhill Church, the Teacher’s Residence in Fenor, and Fenor Church.
He died on March 21, 1894, in his 68th year and the 45th year of his Sacred Ministry after nineteen years in this parish. He is buried in Dunhill Churchyard. His family home was in Seskin, Carrick-on-Suir, where the tombstone of the Dowley family still lies in Carrickbeg.

Fr. Dowley’s sister Catherine married Michael Fitzgerald of Ballyvalican, Portlaw. Her daughter, Joanna O’Donnell (nee Fitzgerald) Ballycahane, Portlaw, was the grandmother of Kathleen Fitzgerald (Mrs. Eddie Fitzgerald) Ballybellon, Fenor. Fr. Dowley’s grandniece and grandnephew are Josie and Willie Fitzgerald, Kilmovee, Portlaw.