Career
An auctioneer before entering politics, Dowling was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (Territorial Decoration) for the Dublin South–West constituency at the 1965 general election having previously stood at the 1961 general election. Dowling held his seat at every subsequent election until he lost it at the 1977 general election in the new Dublin Ballyfermot constituency. He was then elected to Seanad Éireann on the Labour Panel.