John Boyd Dunlop’s invention didn’t make his fortune, but did leave a legacy that changed the world of transportation. And it all began with a child’s tricycle on the cobbled streets of Belfast…
Born in Scotland in 1840, John Boyd Dunlop studied veterinary science at the University of Edinburgh before moving to Downpatrick, County Down in 1867. Here he established the Downe Veterinary Clinic, with his brother James, before going on to open a second highly successful practice in Belfast, in 1887.
HIS ACCIDENTAL INVENTION
It was while living in the city that Dunlop sought to find a solution to the jolting of his young son’s tricycle on the cobbled streets around their home.
The inventor improvised an air-filled rubber tube, tacked on to the wooden wheels with linen cloth. It was a resounding success and Dunlop soon moved on to making tyres for larger bicycles.
Willie Hume, a prominent Irish racing cyclist, was the first man in the world to buy Dunlop’s controversial invention. To silence critics, Hume decided to use Dunlop’s tyres at a race meet in four events at Queen’s College, Belfast. He won all four.
Among the crowds that day was Dublin financier William Harvey du Cros. He was fascinated by Dunlop’s invention, and in 1888 the two set up a company called the Pneumatic Tyre and Booth’s Cycle Agency.
In 1896, du Cros sold the business to a British financier for £3 million.
The Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company produced its first car tyre in 1900. The business branched out into sports equipment and the Dunlop name now appears as a corporate sponsor of international sporting events from tennis to motor racing.
Today John Boyd Dunlop is revered as a pioneer in road transport, particularly in terms of safety. Almost every vehicle uses the pneumatic tyre that began life on the cobblestones of Belfast.
Níor chruthaigh aireagán John Boyd Dunlop saibhreas dó, ach d’fhág sé oidhreacht a d’athraigh saol an iompair. Agus thosaigh sé uilig le trírothach páiste ar shráideanna doirneogacha Bhéal Feirste.
Rugadh John Boyd Dunlop in Albain in 1840, rinne sé staidéar ar an eolaíocht tréidliachta in Ollscoil Dhún Éideann sular bhog sé go Dún Pádraig, Contae an Dúin, sa bhliain 1867. Is anseo a chuir sé Downe Veterinary Clinic ar bun, lena dhearthair James, agus ansin chuaigh sé ar aghaidh le cleachtas thar a bheith rathúil a bhunú i mBéal Feirste in 1887.
AN T-AIREAGÁN TIMPEASTACH S’AIGE
Is nuair a bhí sé ina chónaí sa chathair a rinne Dunlop iarracht réiteach a fháil ar chroitheadh thrírothach a mhic ar na sráideanna doirneogacha thart fán teach s’acu.
Rinne an t-aireagóir feadán rubair aerlíonta a sheiftiú, agus é curtha ar na rothaí adhmaid le línéadach. D’éirigh go han-mhaith leis agus thosaigh Dunlop ag déanamh bonn fá choinne na rothar níos mó.
Ba é Willie Hume, rothaí rásaíochta mór le rá, an chéad duine ar domhan a cheannaigh an t-aireagán conspóideach ó Dunlop. Le lucht a cháinte a chur ina dtost, shocraigh Hume boinn Dunlop a úsáid i dtionól rásaíochta i gceithre imeacht ag Coláiste na Banríona, Béal Feirste. Bhain sé na ceithre cinn.
Bhí William Harvey du Cros, an t-airgeadaí as Baile Átha Cliath, i measc an tslua an lá sin. Bhí an-suim aige in aireagán Dunlop, agus in 1888 bhunaigh an bheirt acu comhlacht darb ainm an Pneumatic Tyre and Booth’s Cycle Agency.
Sa bhliain 1896, dhíol du Cros an comhlacht le hairgeadaí Briotanach ar £3 mhilliún.
Rinne Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company a chéad bhonn do charr in 1900. Leathnaíodh an gnólacht le trealamh spóirt a dhéanamh agus tá an t-ainm Dunlop le feiceáil anois mar urraitheoir corparáideach ar imeachtaí idirnáisiúnta spóirt, ó leadóg go rásaíocht carranna
Tá ardmheas ar John Boyd Dunlop sa lá atá inniu ann mar cheannródaí san iompar ar bhóithre, go háirithe ó thaobh na sábháilteachta de. Úsáideann chóir a bheith achan fheithicil an t-aerbhonn a tháinig ar an tsaol ar dhoirneoga Bhéal Feirste.
