Mr Joey Dunlop, OBE
The Freedom of the Borough was conferred on Mr Joey Dunlop on 29th September 1993 in recognition of the great honour brought to the Borough through the outstanding skill and courage by which he gained, as a racing motor cyclist of world renown, five Formula One Championships, and a record of fifteen wins in the Isle of Man T.T. races.
Background and History
In a career that brought him success on most of the motor cycling world’s outstanding circuits Joey Dunlop remained the quiet, cheerful, unaffected man from Ballymoney. He made no boasts, issued no threat, avoided the headlines and concentrated on getting on with the job. Joey, ‘The King of the Roads’, through courage and ambition became the most successful rider of all time.
In addition to winning five Formula One World Championships he made sporting history by setting a new world record of fifteen wins in the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Races. His feats were suitably recognised at the highest level by the award to him in 1986 by Her Majesty The Queen of the M.B.E.
Ballymoney Borough Council, in the conferment of the greatest honour available to it, sought to mark the achievements of someone who became quite possibly its best-known citizen in the 20th century.
Joey Dunlop was killed on Sunday, 2 July 2000, while racing in Estonia.