On Saturday the 24th May 2025, the people of Ballymoney plan to hold a one day festival to commemorate the life and times of their local hero Bro Joey Dunlop. Very few people from the island of Ireland were as well known as the late Bro Joey, and yearly, ever since the year 2000, his Bar and Memorial Garden attract many visitors from around the world. Their commemoration has been widely advertised, and a very large turnout is expected to join the celebration and visit his memorial display in the Ballymoney Museum.
Bro Joey Dunlop was a renowned motorcycle racer, widely regarded as one of the greatest road racers of all time. His career spanned over 23 years, marked by numerous victories and record-breaking achievements, including 26 wins at the Isle of Man TT, 5 Formula One World Championships, and countless local road races. Joey set a record of 26 wins at the Isle of Man, a record that was unbroken for some 24 years until his nephew finally broke it last year.
His five Formula One World Championships (1982-1986) solidified his status as a global racing legend. He won 24 races at the Ulster Grand Prix, a testament to his dominance in local road racing and won 13 races at the North West 200, another significant achievement in his career. He was awarded an MBE in 1985 for his services to motorcycling.
In 1989 he joined Vowferry Masonic Lodge No 17, on the Vow Road, Bendooragh, outside Ballymoney on the 3rd February 1989. His attendance were good, and he received his Fellowcraft degree in March 1989 and was raised to a Master Mason in November 1989.
Joey was a quiet man, and in his quiet way he used to load up his van and set off to Romania and Albania with many loads of food, clothing, and medicines which he delivered in person to many of the Children’s Homes that he found on his travels. And of course, once the various continental Border Guards discovered who he was, he was warmly welcomed and quickly allowed over their borders. And much to his surprise, he was awarded an OBE in 1996 for his ongoing charity work.
His success in The Isle of Man was rewarded by the government and people of the Island when he was presented with The Manx Sword of State, creating him a Knight of the Island.
Over the years Joey travelled extensively to take part in various races in England, Southern Ireland, Scotland, and Mainland Europe. On the 2nd July 2000, he arrived in Tallin, Estonia and took part in a small local race there. Sadly, he died in a racing accident that day when he came off the road and hit a tree. Fans around the world were in shock, and many travelled to Ireland for his funeral. His body was returned to Dublin, and a large number of motor cyclists accompanied the hearse on its way up north to Ballymoney. Along the way, many others joined the procession and by the time his body arrived at his church, there were tens of thousands of people present.
Memorial statues were erected in Ballymoney and at The Bungalow on the Isle of Man course. Our local council in Ballymoney created a magnificent memorial garden, with a large memorial detailing many of his various racing wins over the years. And the family presented a number of items to the local Council Museum, which are on display until later in June.
A group of English Masonic motor cyclists came together after his death and formed The Joey Dunlop Mark Master Masons Lodge No 1881 in his memory. A group of the Vowferry Brethren visited the Lodge and presented a portrait of Joey to add to their artefacts. Joey Dunlop’s achievements and impact on motorcycling are still celebrated today, with his legacy enduring among his many fans and fellow racers.
An of course, our own Widows Sons, on one of their runs, called through Ballymoney and spent time in the memorial garden, where a few group photos were taken to mark the occasion One of these photos is attached below.
Robert Bashford