The RTÉ news website has announced the death of the Brosna born international athlete and commentator, Jerry Kiernan at the age of 67.
He represented Ireland at the 1984 Olympics and later became one of our foremost commentators on athletics on RTÉ radio and television.
“A long-distance runner, the Listowel native represented Ireland at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles where he finished ninth in the men’s marathon,” according to the site.
Dublin City Marathon Winner
“He won the Dublin City Marathon in 1982 and 1992 and was the seventh Irishman to run a sub-four-minute mile.
“He would go on to coach a number of athletes including middle-distance runner, Ciara Mageean.
“We are very sorry to hear of the passing of Jerry Kiernan.
“Jerry finished 9th in the Olympic marathon in 1984, and also coached many of Ireland’s top athletes, including Ciara Mageean and John Travers,” the station’s report concluded.
John Lenihan – “Shocked at the News”
Fellow international athlete, John Lenihan, while ‘totally shocked at the news’ this afternoon said that Jerry Kiernan was ‘some athlete.’
“We had many a great battle but he always came out on top. We finished a race together in Killarney one evening and both of us on the time of 28:40 – but even then he was judged to have won by a nose. This came out of the blue and I’m just shocked at the news,” said the former World Mountain Running Champion.
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