May Dunlop, mother of Joey and Robert Dunlop, dies aged 91

May Dunlop, from Co Antrim, died on Monday afternoon at the age of 91.

The matriarch of the iconic racing family, Mrs Dunlop suffered a series of tragic losses in her life after her sons Joey and Robert were both killed as a result of accidents in the sport.

Joey died in May 2000 in Tallinn, Estonia after he lost control of his bike in the wet conditions before colliding with a tree.

Robert Dunlop died in hospital after crashing in a practice race at the North West 200 in May 2008. He suffered fatal chest injuries as a result of his bike seizing - throwing him over the handle bars.

Robert’s son and Mrs Dunlop’s grandson William Dunlop also died as a result of a racing crash in 2018.

All three men’s deaths were described as monumental losses to the racing community, with Joey’s Ballymoney funeral attended by over 50,000 people.

Mrs Dunlop’s grandson Michael Dunlop is currently the second most awarded winner of the Isle of Man TT – his uncle Joey is first.

A post on Funeral Times described her as the “beloved wife of the late William, much loved mother of Helen, Linda, Jim, Virginia, Margaret and the late Joey, Robert and Shirley and a dear mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother and great great-grandmother.”

Her funeral is due to take place at Garryduff Presbyterian Church on Thursday at 2pm followed by interment in adjoining churchyard.

Mrs Dunlop formerly told the Belfast Telegraph In 2008 about her love for her sons and how time did not heal the wounds left by their deaths.

“They were good sons and I loved them dearly,” she said.

“I mean, time doesn’t heal. Joey’s (death) is like yesterday but you couldn’t have, you wouldn’t have told them to stop. That was their life.”

Following her cousin’s death in 2018, Cathy Laverty, whose mum Linda is the sister of the late Joey and Robert, described her grandmother as “very strong”.

"She's seen two of her sons die, and now, right down to her grandchildren.

"Normally a parent should never see their child die.

"My granny is very, very strong with everything she's been through.”

Mrs Dunlop’s passing saw an outpouring of condolences from the motor racing community, with The Motorsport Hub group writing: “Thoughts and prayers are with the wider Dunlop Family at this time.”

The Irish Superbike Blog also shared a message for the Dunlop family on news of their matriarch’s passing.

"Deepest Sympathy to the Dunlop family on the passing of May Dunlop," they said in a social media post on X, formerly Twitter.

Others also wrote how she was “now reunited with her sons”.

"Such a strong woman, how she ever made it through so much grief and loss. Heart-breaking but now at rest with her precious sons. Thinking of the family,” one social media user wrote.

Ulster Grand Prix Race Co-ordinator and former editor at Road Racing Ireland, Leslie Moore also paid tribute: “Another very sad day for the Dunlop family. A wonderful character who experienced all aspects of life but still remained a dignified lady who always looked on the positives.

"There are not many mothers who could attend funerals and remembrance days for (their) sons and grandson with such grace and thinking of others. Sincere condolences.”