Michael Dunlop (bowls)

Michael Dunlop

Personal information
Nationality	British (Northern Irish)
Born	c.1958 [1]
Sport
Club	Ormeau BC, Belfast

Michael Dunlop (born c.1958) is a former international lawn bowler from Northern Ireland who competed at the Commonwealth Games.

Biography

Dunlop was a member of the Ormeau Bowls Club of Belfast and was capped by Ireland for the first time in June 1977, ^[1] becoming the youngest player in history to play for Ireland. ^[2]

Dunlop represented the Northern Irish team ^[3] at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada, ^[4] where he competed in the fours event, ^[5] with Willie Murray, Willie Watson, Jimmy Donnelly. ^[6] Aged just 18 at the time, Dunlop received the honour of being the flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Games. ^[7]

He was the singles runner-up of Ireland behind Jeremy Henry at the 1996 Irish National Bowls Championships. ^{[8] [9]}

References

1. "Michael is right for Ireland" . Belfast Telegraph. 20 June 1977. p. 20. Retrieved 3 January 2026– via British Newspaper Archive.
2. "Ireland give youth a fling" . Ireland's Saturday Night. 30 January 1978. p. 18. Retrieved 3 January 2026– via British Newspaper Archive.
3. "Seven Up!" . Ireland's Saturday Night. 10 June 1978. p. 4. Retrieved 3 January 2026– via British Newspaper Archive.
4. "Northern Ireland Edmonton 1978". Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
5. "Julie (13) for Games" . Belfast Telegraph. 13 June 1978. p. 22. Retrieved 3 January 2026– via British Newspaper Archive.
6. Sullivan, Patrick (1986). Guinness Bowls Records. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 82. ISBN   0-85112-414-3.
7. "Michael is our lead" . Ireland's Saturday Night. 29 July 1978. p. 12. Retrieved 3 January 2026– via British Newspaper Archive.
8. "Previous Winners". Irish Bowling Association. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
9. "CIS Irish Mens Championships" . Irish Independent. 7 September 1996. p. 23. Retrieved 8 April 2021– via The British Newspaper Archive.