Tom Dowdall

The Republic of Ireland made their début in international rowing at Henley during the 1948 London Olympics. Tom Dowdall was a bow to the eight that finished third in their heat behind Canada and Portugal before losing by 20 seconds to Norway in their repêchage heat. Just before the London Games, Dowdall was in the Universality College Dublin (UCD) eight that won the Irish Amateur Rowing Union (IARU) senior cup final with a win over Belfast Commercial Rowing Club at Lagan, Belfast.

Dowdall was also in the UCD eight that won the 1947 University Grand Cup at the Dublin University Regatta, and that same year won the Irish Head of the River race with the UCD eight. Dowdall studied medicine at UCD and became a doctor. He was the GP (General Practitioner) at Stewartstown, Northern Ireland, for more than 30 years until his retirement in 1996, after which he continued playing his other sporting love of golf.