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Belfast Telegraph
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Joey Dunlop exhibition unveiled to celebrate renowned motorcyclist's legacy 25 years after his death
The Ballymoney Museum will showcase unique memorabilia from the sporting icon, including picks from some of his 26 Isle of Man TT wins, with many directly on loan from the Dunlop family archives. Dunlop, dubbed 'King of the Roads', was born in the Co Antrim town in 1952 and quickly rose to prominence after clinching his first major motorcycling victory at the age of 23. He would go on to cement himself as one of Northern Ireland's most successful sporting figures, achieving five Formula One World Championships, 13 North West 200 victories and 24 Ulster Grand Prix triumphs. Among his honours include an MBE in 1986 and an OBE ten years later for his humanitarian work with children in eastern Europe. In July of 2000, after more than 31 years of dominating the racing scene, Dunlop would tragically pass away after an accident during a competition in Tallinn, Estonia. Around 50,000 mourners from all backgrounds gathered at Garryduff Presbyterian Church for his funeral outside his hometown. The new Joey 25 exhibition will include rare photographers, racing leathers and trophies among the items on display. Motorcycle fans may take a particular interest in the display featuring the gloves Dunlop wore when he lost the tip of his left-hand ring finger during a crash at the 1998 Tandragee 100 race meeting. Interactive displays and original restored bikes will also be showcased at the event. Dunlop's wife, Linda Dunlop, will launch the event, which she said was a 'beautiful way to honour his life'. 'Joey's memory lives on through the love and support of his fans and our community,' Linda explained. 'This Joey 25 exhibition is a beautiful way to honour his life and we're grateful to Ballymoney Museum staff and the council for making it happen.' Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Ciarán McQuillan will join the Dunlop family in kickstarting the exhibition. He revered Dunlop as 'not just a sporting legend, but a beloved figure who put Ballymoney on the world stage'. 'We are deeply honoured to host this exhibition in Joey's hometown,' said Mr McQuillan. 'This exhibition is a heartfelt tribute to his achievements and the profound impact he continues to have on our community and beyond.' The Joey 25 exhibition is part of a series of events commemorating the 25th anniversary of Joey's passing. Museum officer Jamie Austin said: 'Thank you to Linda and the Dunlop family for sharing their cherished items with us for this iconic exhibition. 'I would also like to thank William McComb and Ian Waddell, who have loaned bikes that Joey rode for the exhibition, in addition to Clifford Stewart, who has also kindly loaned bikes to the museum which will be showcased as part of a display on the history of motorbike racing. 'The museums team is very much looking forward to showing members of the public this exhibition and the legacy that Joey has left for us all.' The exhibition will run from Tuesday, May 6, to Saturday, August 30, from 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Joey Dunlop celebration will be 'unique'
Joey Dunlop's former Honda team-mate Phillip McCallen says the distinguished line-up of riders and collection of machinery gathered for a special celebration of the legendary motorcyclist's racing career on 24 May will make it a "unique" legacy of the much revered motorcycling icon will be honoured at a special event in his hometown of Ballymoney to mark 25 years since his passing in a racing incident in Dunlop's achievements were 26 wins at the Isle of Man TT, five Formula One World Championships, 24 Ulster Grand Prix victories and 13 North West 200 those taking part in the "Joey 25" celebration will be multiple World Superbike champions Jonathan Rea and Carl Fogarty, McCallen, ex-grand prix riders Ron Haslam, Jeremy McWilliams and Eugene Laverty, British champions Leon Haslam and Adrian Coates, North West 200 stars Glenn Irwin and Alastair Seeley, plus double Formula Two world champion Brian TT winner McCallen told BBC Sport NI it would be "an honour' to take part in the event."This is unique. There's nobody else could bring a collection of riders like this together. They were all friends of Joey Dunlop and they all respected him."We were team-mates for a lot of years. We had some serious competition between each other but we were still friends."He was the sort of guy you could have a tough, tough race with but respect each other." 'I looked up to him and wanted to ride like him' The afternoon will feature the largest-ever display of Joey's motorcycles while on the evening of 24 May the iconic machines will roar to life as a star-studded line-up rides them in a closed-road parade through Ballymoney's town centre."Joey's career spanned a lot of years and there's no other rider in the world I think would have had this many bikes," added McCallen."A lot of the bikes have been restored and a lot of the bikes are original. There are some replicas out there but this collection of bikes is unique."Among the decorated road racers who will participate in the event are Ryan Farquhar, Michael Rutter, Adrian Archibald and Ian Simpson and Bruce Anstey, who conveys something of Joey's international appeal."He was pretty much my all-time hero," reflected New Zealander Anstey, a 12-time TT winner now resident in county Antrim."I grew up watching him. We used to get the old videotapes in the 1980s in New Zealand and we enjoyed watching him. To ride one of his bikes is a big privilege to me. "I had the privilege of standing next to him in the podium after the 250cc race in 2000. I was too scared to talk to him then. I couldn't understand a word he said either as well. I just really looked up to him and wanted to ride like him." 'As well thought of as ever' Dunlop's son Gary added that the event held in memory of his late father will be "very special"."This is the 25th year and it's going to be the last event of its kind in our lifetime. We're really excited that it's happening."It's 25 years down the line and it's testament to his loyal fanbase that he is as well thought of as ever and it's humbling to see it."There are a lot of big names and it's nice to see people like Jonathan Rea and Carl Fogarty coming to Ballymoney, a wee town that's off the beaten track. It's good for the town."
