Official tourism website for Northern Ireland
En

Dunlop Memorial Gardens

Castle Street, Corner of Seymour Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim, BT53 6TD
Dunlop Memorial Gardens

Book Tickets Online

About

In this beautiful setting visitors have time to reflect on the unprecedented achievements of these much loved international motorcycling legends.

Joey Dunlop, born in Ballymoney in 1952, was affectionately known to motorcycle racing fans and competitors alike as, 'King of the Roads' .

His incredible sporting career included five Formula One World Championships; 13 wins at the North West 200; 24 wins at the Ulster Grand Prix and a world record of 26 wins at the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy. His sporting achievements were recognised by Her Majesty the Queen when he was awarded an MBE in 1986. Ten years later he was presented with an OBE for his remarkable humanitarian work with children in Eastern Europe.

Tragically Joey lost his life whilst racing in Estonia on 2nd July 2000. It is estimated that 60,000 people from across the world came to Ballymoney to attend his funeral. In May 2001 Ballymoney Borough Council officially opened the Joey Dunlop Memorial Garden.

Joey's brother, Robert Dunlop was 19 years old when he made his debut at the Temple 100. He was soon winning races, at the North West 200, Ulster Grand Prix and Isle of Man TT and riding everything from 125cc to superbike. By 1991, he had won Ulster, Irish and British Championships including five wins at the Isle of Man, 15 at the North West 200 and nine at the Ulster Grand Prix. In addition, he won Grands Prix in Indonesia and Macau.

Robert Dunlop was tragically killed on 15 May 2008, during a qualifying session for the 250cc race at the North West 200. His son Michael insisted on riding in the same race only two days later. In one of the most memorable and emotional moments in Irish sporting history, Michael won the race "I had to do it for him - I hope my dad's proud of me."

The Robert Dunlop Memorial Garden was opened by Ballymoney Borough Council on 8 May 2010 and adjoins the Memorial Garden honouring his brother Joey. It features a polished granite obelisk and a bronze sculpture of Robert.

Ten years after the death of Robert Dunlop the unthinkable happened.  Robert’s eldest son, William Dunlop, was tragically killed on 7th July 2018 at the Skerries 100 Road Races near Dublin. He was 32 years old.

William had entered competitive racing at 15 years of age and had a natural talent. An immensely likeable rider on the Irish scene and in the Isle of Man, his 119 road race wins included four at the North West 200 and seven at the Ulster Grand Prix. 

In February 2022 a life-size statue of William Dunlop was unveiled in the Dunlop Memorial Gardens.  It is positioned close to that of his father.

Book Tickets

Facilities

Attraction Facilities

  • Open Evenings
  • Open Mondays
  • Open Sundays

Establishment Features

  • Accept coach parties

Parking & Transport

  • On site parking

Provider Preferences

  • Free (parking charges may apply)

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
TicketFree

Admission is free.

Add Dunlop Memorial Gardens to your Itinerary

Close window

Call direct on:

Tel+44 (0) 28 2766 0230

Map & Directions

Opening Times

Open Christmas
Open New Year

* All year round, always open.

What's Nearby

  1. From the Mesolithic to Motorcycles, through rebellion and war, politics, industry, sport…

    0.28 miles away
  2. Ballymoney’s Arts, Museum and Visitor Information Centre is well worth a visit. This…

    0.32 miles away
  3. A pleasant urban 40-acre Park in the heart of Ballymoney Town, in which to enjoy a…

    0.36 miles away
  4. Rosepark Farm is a family run attraction spread over 70 acres, situated in the North…

    3.67 miles away
  5. Mountsandel Wood is the earliest known settlement of man in Ireland dating to between…

    6.75 miles away
  6. The Blackheath Pottery is a unique pottery and café, situated between Coleraine and…

    6.9 miles away
  7. This beautiful avenue of beech trees was planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth…

    7.06 miles away
  8. Castlecat Studio Gallery is based in a small, tastefully converted stable of a former…

    7.27 miles away
  9. Coleraine Town Hall presides over the central shopping piazza in Coleraine. Designed by…

    7.56 miles away
  10. A beautiful and historically important bridge within tranquil woodland, just outside the…

    7.66 miles away
  11. Covering 200 hectares, Garvagh forest is situated on the Western outskirts of Garvagh,…

    9.19 miles away
  12. A 200-hectare forest containing many species of trees, wildlife – and even a pyramid…

    9.23 miles away
  13. In 1608, in Bushmills, a legend was born. In that year, King James I granted a very…

    9.27 miles away
  14. Dunluce Castle is located dramatically close to a headland that plunges straight into the…

    10.2 miles away
  15. A regular recipient of the prestigious Blue Flag Award, Whiterocks Beach has become a…

    10.29 miles away
  16. Flowerfield Arts Centre is Coleraine’s dedicated arts facility, offering superb…

    10.43 miles away

Virtual Tour

Map & Directions

Road Directions

Directions from Town:On approach to Ballymoney follow the clearly marked brown tourist signs from the A26 Frosses Road. The Garden is situated on the corner of Castle Street and Seymour Street.

Back to Top

Tourism Northern Ireland

Don't Miss