Latest news with #MichaelDunlop
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
106-year-old WW2 veteran among those on King's Honours list
A 106-year-old Second World War veteran from Coleraine is the oldest person on the King's Birthday Honours list. Norman Irwin has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for a range of voluntary work in his home town in County Londonderry, including at a cross-community club for retirees. A total of 69 people from Northern Ireland are honoured on the list which celebrates the public service of individuals across the UK. Road-racer Michael Dunlop, 36, has been made an MBE for services to the sport. The record-breaking Isle of Man TT winner said: "This is a wonderful honour for me and for my family. I am humbled to be awarded this honour from the Palace." Among the others from Northern Ireland to be recognised are the former permanent secretary at the Department of Health, Peter May, and the chairwoman of the recent Urology Inquiry, Christine Smith KC, who are appointed CBE. The founder of the Belfast Community Gospel Choir, Dr Marie Lacey, has been made an MBE for her work in the arts sector. The choir brings together people of different faiths, races, sexual orientations and socio-economic backgrounds. Dr Lacey said: "I can not put into words what this honour means to me. "To think back to that little girl on the Newtownards Road in Belfast to now receiving this recognition is beyond what I could have dreamed for myself." "Seeing joy on our audiences' faces has always been my privilege, and so to be recognised and honoured for that is pretty overwhelming." Also made an MBE was Joanne Currie, principal of Cairnshill Integrated Primary School in south Belfast. "It means a huge deal to me," she told BBC News NI. "I am just an 'ordinary Joe', just working on a daily basis. To get something like this is, is an honour and it's very humbling." Among those in the business community who received honours was Jo Bamford, the owner of Wrightbus, who was made a CBE for services to innovating the clean hydrogen economy. Vicky Davies, the chief executive of Danske Bank, was made an OBE. "I feel privileged to receive this honour, and I very much see it as a reflection of the everyday dedication and hard work my colleagues put in to serving the banking needs of local people and businesses," she said. James McGinn, managing director of Hastings Hotels, has been made an MBE for services to hospitality and tourism. Richard Taylor, a governor in the Northern Ireland Prison Service, has been made an OBE, as has Terry Pateman, the chairman of the Northern Amateur Football league. Seven birthday honours were awarded to members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, including Insp Richard Brown who has more than 40 years of service. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: "I am incredibly proud to see the dedication and bravery of our officers and staff members recognised. "These honours reflect not only individual accomplishments, but also the dedication and professionalism that define the PSNI." Communities Minister Gordon Lyons paid tribute to those from the sport, music, arts, charity, housing and voluntary and community sectors who were recognised. "Each recipient has made a positive and lasting impact on our society and are an inspiration, I would like to thank each of you." Click here for a full list of those named in the Kings Birthday Honours list. The commonly awarded ranks are as follows: Companion of Honour - Limited to 65 people. Recipients wear the initials CH after their name Knight or Dame CBE - Commander of the Order of the British Empire OBE - Officer of the Order of the British Empire MBE - Member of the Order of the British Empire BEM - British Empire Medal READ: Guide to the King's Birthday Honours King's Birthday Honours: How does the UK honours system work?
The Independent
13-06-2025
- Science
- The Independent
N Ireland motorcyclist, war veteran and public inquiry chairwoman honoured
One of the world's most renowned road racers, an astrophysicist and the first woman to chair a public inquiry in Northern Ireland are among those being honoured by the King in his birthday honours. The region also has the oldest person to be honoured on the list, with 106-year-old Second World War veteran Norman Irwin, from Coleraine, in line for a British Empire Medal (BEM). Dozens of people from Northern Ireland have been recognised, including former permanent secretary at the Department of Health Peter May with the Order of the Bath for public service, and Michael Dunlop, 36, being made an MBE for services to motorcycle racing. From starting his racing journey as one of the famous Dunlop family dynasty of Ballymoney, Co Antrim, in 2006, Michael has gone on to become the most successful rider in the history of the Isle of Man TT, with 32 wins, and has overall won more than 120 national road races. He said: 'I've spent years pushing through every high and low life could throw at me. No matter the challenge, I've always given everything 100% on and off the track. 'To now be recognised in this way is a privilege beyond words.' Astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, 81, originally from Lurgan, Co Armagh, who as a doctoral student discovered the first radio pulsars in 1967, is to be made a Companion of Honour, and Christine Smith KC, from Co Down, chairwoman of the Urology Services Inquiry, is being made a CBE. Ms Smith said she is 'deeply honoured'. 'I feel privileged to be the recipient as the first woman to chair a public inquiry in Northern Ireland,' she said. 'I see it as a recognition of the incredible mentors and champions I have had throughout my career, and I am most grateful for their support. 'I also see it as a reflection of the collective effort of my team on the Urology Services Inquiry (USI,) and those I have been lucky to work with on previous inquiries, including the Independent Neurology Inquiry (INI), the Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry (RHI) and in particular the Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA).' Meanwhile, Richard Taylor, governor of Hydebank Wood Secure College and Women's Prison, is being made an OBE for public service. Mr Taylor credited the whole team of staff for being part of a 10-year process of turning the south Belfast facility around, following a critical inspection report in 2013, to being described as a 'model of excellence'.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Record-breaking motorcyclist says MBE a ‘privilege beyond words'
Record-breaking motorcycle racer Michael Dunlop said becoming an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours is a 'privilege beyond words'. The professional road racer from Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, was made an MBE for services to motorcycle racing. Part of the famous Dunlop racing dynasty, he established himself as one of the greatest road racers of all time as the most successful rider in the history of the Isle of Man TT, with 32 wins. In a statement, Dunlop said: 'What an honour it is to be named in the King's Birthday Honours list and to receive an MBE. 'I've spent years pushing through every high and low life could throw at me. No matter the challenge, I've always given everything 100% on and off the track. 'To now be recognised in this way is a privilege beyond words. 'From the beginning, I've driven myself to become the best rider I can be, with the goal of becoming the greatest at the TT. At the same time, I've always carried the pride of keeping the Dunlop name at the top of the sport. 'This journey hasn't been easy but the results speak for themselves. I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who's played a part in it: my team, my sponsors, my family, my friends, and the fans who've stood by me through it all. 'Thank you.'
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Dunlop and Booth receive MBEs in King's Birthday Honours
Michael Dunlop and Neil Booth have spoken of their immense pride after being awarded MBEs in the King's Birthday 36, is regarded as a road racing great as the record holder for the most number of wins and podiums at the Isle of Man TT, making it 33 victories just last Ballymoney man comes from a family synonymous with motorcycling and tragedy, with his father Robert, brother William and uncle Joey all tragically passing away while pursuing the sport they has remained committed to racing as, in addition to his exploits on the Isle of Man, he has enjoyed success at the North West 200, claiming his first victory just days after his father's death in 2008 when topping the podium in the 250cc most recent outing at the North West saw him secure a hat-trick of wins to bring his tally to eight overall and further cement his legacy in the now follows in the footsteps of his uncle Joey, who was also made an MBE in 1986 before being presented with an OBE 10 years later."This is a wonderful honour for me and for my family," he said."I am proud to represent Northern Ireland sport, and motorcycling in this country."Our team has had another brilliant year, with a hat trick at the NW200, and smashing into the record books again at the Isle of Man TT."To be the not just the most successful rider in the history of the TT, but also to have the record number of podiums and to have won on the biggest number of manufacturers is extremely special."I am humbled to be awarded this honour from the Palace." 'This award is for the entire sport' - Booth County Antrim bowler Booth has spoken of his "delight", having been awarded an highly-decorated 57-year-old enjoyed a remarkable career on the green and has since brought that expertise into his role as coach of the Irish men's team which opens its 2025 Mainstream International Programme with a test match away to Bowls Jersey over the will go there with an added spring in his step after news of his recognition was made public on Friday and he admits he was a little shocked when first contacted."I saw the letter outside the door with 'Cabinet Office' on the front and started to think I was going to be extradited, but I was delighted when I opened it up," he said."I can't imagine what the whole occasion will be like, but I'm really looking forward to it. We'll make a weekend out of it but I imagine I'll be pretty nervous."Booth recently collected the High Performance Coaching Award at the Sport NI Sportmaker ceremony at Titanic Belfast and this will sit alongside a host of medals and honours collected down through the Portglenone man is a three-time medallist at the World Championships which includes gold in the fours back in 2004 when the Championships were held in is also in possession of four Commonwealth Games medals, including gold from the 1998 edition in Kuala Lumpur and bronze in Manchester 2002 - both in the fours - while taking silver medals in the triples in the Melbourne Games of 2006 and again in Glasgow a coach, he helped guide Northern Ireland's men to the men's fours title at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, with Gary Kelly taking silver in the men's 2020, he completed a charity challenge when playing bowls in 52 clubs throughout Ireland to raise awareness of mental health issues, which underlined his commitment to help awarding of an MBE is the crowning glory and Booth reflected on a superb career, but insists he will accept the award on behalf of the entire sport."I've probably played at that high level from he late 80s, early 90s, all the way through to 2014," he added."Since then, the coaching role has gone really well and the men's team is second in the world at the minute, which is exceptional. I'm just delighted as this says a lot about the sport in general. It's come on leaps and bounds over here, so this is an award for the entire sport, as much as it is for myself."
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
King's honours: 106-year-old WW2 veteran is among those recognised
A 106-year-old Second World War veteran from Coleraine is the oldest person on the King's Birthday Honours Irwin has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for a range of voluntary work in his home town in County Londonderry, including at a cross-community club for retirees.A total of 69 people from Northern Ireland are honoured on the list which celebrates the public service of individuals across the Michael Dunlop, 36, is to receive an MBE for services to the sport. The record-breaking Isle of Man TT winner said: "This is a wonderful honour for me and for my family. I am humbled to be awarded this honour from the Palace."Among the others from Northern Ireland to be recognised are the former permanent secretary at the Department of Health, Peter May, and the chair of the recent Urology Inquiry, Christine Smith KC, who is to receive a CBE. The founder of the Belfast Community Gospel Choir, Dr Marie Lacey, has been awarded an MBE for her work in the arts choir brings together people of different faiths, races, sexual orientations and socio-economic backgrounds. Dr Lacey said: "I can not put into words what this honour means to me."To think back to that little girl on the Newtownards Road in Belfast to now receiving this recognition is beyond what I could have dreamed for myself.""Seeing joy on our audiences' faces has always been my privilege, and so to be recognised and honoured for that is pretty overwhelming." 'Huge deal' Also awarded an MBE was Joanne Currie, principal of Cairnshill Integrated Primary School in south Belfast."It means a huge deal to me," she told BBC News NI."I am just an 'ordinary Joe', just working on a daily basis. To get something like this is, is an honour and it's very humbling." James McGinn, managing director of Hastings Hotels, has been awarded an MBE for services to hospitality and Taylor, a governor in the Northern Ireland Prison Service, has been awarded an OBE, as has Terry Pateman, the chair of the Northern Amateur Football birthday honours were awarded to members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), including Inspector Richard Brown who has more than 40 years of Constable Jon Boutcher said: "I am incredibly proud to see the dedication and bravery of our officers and staff members recognised."These honours reflect not only individual accomplishments, but also the dedication and professionalism that define the PSNI."Communities Minister Gordon Lyons paid tribute to those from the sport, music, arts, charity, housing and voluntary and community sectors who were recognised."Each recipient has made a positive and lasting impact on our society and are an inspiration, I would like to thank each of you." What are the awarded ranks? The commonly awarded ranks are as follows:Companion of Honour - Limited to 65 people. Recipients wear the initials CH after their nameKnight or DameCBE - Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOBE - Officer of the Order of the British EmpireMBE - Member of the Order of the British EmpireBEM - British Empire MedalREAD: Guide to the King's Birthday Honours
