Ceili Crew Achievement Award Recipient: Vincent Dowling

Vincent Dowling was born in Dublin, Ireland during 1929 on the seventh of September.  Mr. Dowling is involved with many theatrical associations.  He was involved in the National Theater of Ireland where he was also the former Artistic Director.  Later he became the Producing Director in North America.  His theatrical company went on its first visit to the Soviet Union, Hong Kong, Brighton, and to the Florence International Festivals.  From 1953 to 1976, you would have found Mr. Dowling working at the Abbey Theater where he became a Lifetime Associate Director.  Working his way up to this position, starting as an actor, he became Deputy Artistic Director, and Director of Experimental Theater.  Later in 1976, he moved to Ohio where he became the Artistic and Producing Director of The Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival all the way through 1984. While he was there he directed, produced or acted in Shakespearean plays or other works.  While in Ohio, during 1977, Dowling discovered today’s highest-grossing lead actor of all time, we know him as Tom Hanks. Dowling also won an Emmy for directing “The Playboy of the Western World”.  During 2005, he received the Irish Ambassador Award which was given to him by the Irish Government.  Continuing to dedicate his life to the theater, even today you can find Vincent performing in New York or at the Chester Miniature Theater, which he founded.  Currently, you can catch Dowling, at his best, performing in the play “Mr. Dooley’s America”.