Joey Dunlop - Northern Ireland's Greatest Sports Star

27/01/2015

In a poll run by the Belfast Telegraph, it's readers voted Joey Dunlop Northern Ireland's Greatest Sports Star ever.

1st - Joey Dunlop
2nd - George Best
3rd - Rory McIlroy

Joey, who died in 2000 racing in Estonia, was voted number one in a special poll to mark the 20th anniversary of the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards.

After 20 sporting greats from Northern Ireland were shortlisted by an expert panel, the decision was handed over to the public who gave their verdict in their thousands, with the legendary Joey coming out on top. Iconic footballer George Best finished runner-up and four-time Major winning golfer Rory McIlroy was third.

Had Joey been around today he would probably have been wondering what all the fuss was about.

Revered and respected, Dunlop was also loved by the people of Northern Ireland, not just for his breathtaking ability on a bike but also his wonderful charitable work, for which he received an OBE.

Joey's daughters Donna and Joanne collected the prize for the Greatest Ever Sports Star, pictured here with Linda Dunlop.