James Dowley (also known as Dooley) (died 1684) was an Irish Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of Limerick from 1720 to 1737.

Dowley moved to Rome in 1655 where he unsuccessfully sought the office of Vicar Apostolic of Limerick.

Amongst the distinguished Irish ecclesiastics present in Rome at this time were Oliver Plunkett and John Brennan.

Despite initial hesitation about the appointment which was expressed to William Burgat the clergy of the diocese accepted Dowley.

[2] Dowley's episcopate was dominated by the so-called Popish Plot a period of anti-Catholic hysteria that made any activity as a bishop dangerous.