Dermot Dunne competed in the wrestling at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, achieving the only Irish wrestling victory of those Games when he defeated Vittorio Mancini of San Marino in his opening bout.

The youngest member of the Irish wrestling contingent at Rome, Dunne’s victory was a significant moment for Irish wrestling at the Olympic Games. He was one of four Irish wrestlers who competed in Rome, alongside Joe Feeney, Sean O’Connor and Gerry Martina.

He went on to compete again at the Tokyo 1964 Olympics.