Pulitzer Prize winning writer Maureen Dowd was given a civic reception in County Mayo last night and stated it would have been one of the proudest days in the lives of her Irish-born father and Irish American mother.
She recounted how her father, Michael Dowd from Clare, almost sailed on the Titanic but canceled because of his mother’s tears. He later became a decorated policeman in Washington D.C. and national president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Her mother, Peggy, was a child of Irish emigrants from Ballinrobe, County Mayo, who often told Maureen and her sister Peggy who was also present that they “had the rocks of Clare in their heads” when telling them off.
Dowd is receiving an honorary degree in University College Galway this week and was in her usual witty form.
A political cocktail of Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Michael Collins and Eamon De Valera was served up by Dowd in Castlebar — with a little bit of George Bush Senior thrown in for good measure.
The celebrated New York Times columnist enthralled the audience at Mayo’s Museum of Country Life.
Sharing the stage with IrishCentral founder Niall O’Dowd, who interviewed her, the acclaimed journalist spoke of her Irish heritage and her love for American politics.
Speaking just days before she receives an honorary degree from Galway University, Dowd described former US President Bill Clinton as ‘like a warm bath,' making donors and Democrats feel deeply loved and appreciated.
The Irish Times reports that she likened Barack Obama to a ‘cold shower,' unable to connect on the same level as Clinton.
She described George Bush Senior as one of the last gentlemen and a man she has come to respect greatly since he left office.
She branded current presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and failed candidate Al Gore as ‘so wooden that they are like guys made in a factory’.
Dowd also predicted that Hillary Clinton could still run for the White House next time round.
With Clare and Mayo roots, Dowd spoke of her mother’s love for Michael Collins and her father’s support for De Valera.
She also revealed that she had learned later in life that she had been conceived at an Ancient Order of Hibernians convention after a row between her parents over the attentions of another man.
To laughter, she admitted: “So I was conceived in jealousy and rage ... which explains everything.”
Speaking on the current situation in American politics, Dowd told her audience: “President Obama’s inability to use his skill as a storyteller, so skilfully applied in his memoir, is a key factor in his drop in support.
“He’s a bit like Luke Skywalker with the force — he’s got it but he doesn’t seem to know how to use it.
“He was supposed to be the Democratic Reagan, but instead of learning to surf the magic, he has put it to one side.
“As a consequence, Obama is now engaged in trying to win back the support of so many groups, from gays, Muslims, Hispanics to Catholics and women who had been so besotted by him and have become disenchanted.”
Looking ahead to the US Presidential election, Dowd predicted: “It will be close even though the campaigns does not have the excitement of 2008.”
The Irish Times reports that Dowd told her captivated audience that the two happiest moments enjoyed by presidents which she had witnessed were Bill Clinton in Belfast with Van Morrison, and Obama in Moneygall, Co Offaly last year.
“Both Clinton and Obama enjoyed the unadulterated love they got from the Irish because of the absence of fathers in their lives,” she said.
She also spoke of the ‘amazing attack’ on the Vatican by Enda Kenny and her abhorrence of the Catholic Church’s reaction to child sexual abuse. She had been ‘very impressed’ by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin who had ‘started crying’ when she was interviewing him, according to the Times report.
Dowd paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II of Britain for ‘overcoming’ the death of her relative Lord Mountbatten to meet Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Bythebay | Jun 28, 2012, 12:55 PM EDT
Shame on UCG and the Museum of Country Life for these accolades. Their funding should be cut if this is the best they can do.
McNamara31 | Jun 27, 2012, 09:06 PM EDT
Miss Maureen Dowd is a gifted writer however lacks judgement in her perception of people. Dowd comes from a big protective, supportive Irish family and whether she realizes it or not, that had an effect on how she turned out.It is as easy for her to describe every situation in such detail, "emoting all the way"; on the other hand, Obama didn't have the big supportive family and because of it (and rightly so) has some "trusting" issues which causes him to be guarded. Given where Miss Dowd began, and from where Obama began, I think Obama could be teaching Miss Dowd a few things instead of Miss Dowd labeling an over comer like Obama as a cold shower.
peterson | Jun 27, 2012, 02:35 PM EDT
If Obama is so qualified, why has his past been so cleverly hidden ? Would an employer hire an applicant that refused to disclose his education, employment history and experience ? Of course not !!
kdavitt | Jun 27, 2012, 10:51 AM EDT
@turzovka - thank you for pointing that out. my apologies to IrishCentral.com
sharlot | Jun 27, 2012, 08:54 AM EDT
Maureen Dowd is far-too-left in her outlook for my liking; she is a gifter writer, and very funny, also.
BrianO | Jun 27, 2012, 08:54 AM EDT
Clinton probably should have taken a few cold showers to keep him out of trouble, and Barry doesn't require a bath or a shower because of his aura of superiority keeps him clean. I love a condescending leader, keeps all the peasants in their place,
Esmeralda | Jun 27, 2012, 06:54 AM EDT
Maureen O'Dowd's comments are not very professional. Who cares if a politician feels like stepping into a warm bath or a cold shower? Their actions is what counts. Calling home the troops and finding Osama Bin Laden count much more than the "feel-good" factor of Clinton who sent troops to Irak and spent more time busy looking under his colleagues skirts.
IrelandNorth | Jun 27, 2012, 05:33 AM EDT
... and the Rt Hon Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness for overcoming the death of 14 civilian protesters on Bloody Sunday in Derry to meet the Chief-of-Staff of the British [Imperial] Army. If Maureen's mother loved Collins, should Maureen not love Martin too. And where did the 'O' in her father's surname disappear to? Still, Maureen is an impressive Irish-American journalist, and the Irish nation is rightly proud of her. I know I am.
Tedmiller | Jun 26, 2012, 09:19 PM EDT
Sometimes you need a warm bath to help you relax, but to help you to wake up and clear your head, you need a cold shower. I think the country still needs the cold shower.
hughoneill | Jun 26, 2012, 08:36 PM EDT
Maureen - spot on character descriptions. Congrats on your honor. Keep the laughs coming.
seanomelb | Jun 26, 2012, 07:44 PM EDT
The creepy crawly right are bursting out of the rotten woodwork today with their half baked Fox/GOP talking points or lies as the should be named.
JBRAFTREE | Jun 26, 2012, 07:10 PM EDT
The "cold shower" cost seniors in the US thousands of $. Chilla: Chill out!!!
WoundedKnee | Jun 26, 2012, 05:17 PM EDT
This Dowd sure sounds like a racist.
RedBranch | Jun 26, 2012, 02:59 PM EDT
Dad just missed the Titanic, just what age is Ms.Dowd?
turzovka | Jun 26, 2012, 02:41 PM EDT
kdavitt -- I believe it you read that sentence properly, "the acclaimed journalist" is describing Maureen Dowd, not Niall O'Dowd. Personally, I cannot believe Ms. Dowd has the narrow mindedness to villify the Catholic Church so vociferously as she does. She goes beyond that and pretty much gives us the impression that serving God via Christianity is a fool's game. Speaking of fools.
kdavitt | Jun 26, 2012, 01:48 PM EDT
"Niall O’Dowd,.... the acclaimed journalist" - don't you guys have ANY shame? He's the editor of this site for Chrissakes!
turzovka | Jun 26, 2012, 01:33 PM EDT
Obama is like a cold shower... no kidding! Obama is like the biggest phony since the begining of time. What I want to know is why the democrat party would have allowed him to run or offer such support. It was OBVIOUS he knew little and hid his past and so on. But because they knew they could win the election with him, they went for it. And now, our whole nation has suffered for it... economically, with respect from other nations, and spiritually. We are adrift.
howareya | Jun 26, 2012, 01:02 PM EDT
Oh come on, Brolaur. I was not a fan of either of the Bush's but she might know him on a personal level rather than a purely political one.
Brolaur | Jun 26, 2012, 11:51 AM EDT
She respects Bush senior! Wow! Lack of judgement and should not be given any award by an Irish university. She's a disgrace.
mayoman | Jun 26, 2012, 11:34 AM EDT
Dowd is a very funny, astute and engaging writer. And a fine woman as well.
katieherk | Jun 26, 2012, 11:02 AM EDT
The best thing out of her mouth on this trip is.... "Obama is like a cold shower".
BrianO | Jun 26, 2012, 10:50 AM EDT
"Obama's inability to use his skill as a story teller, so skillfully applied in his memoir" I think he should ask his neighbor in Chicago Bill Ayers for some storytelling tips, like the ones he used to write Obama's memoirs.
feliciamaisey | Jun 26, 2012, 09:27 AM EDT
She is a class act through and through!