Digital Desk Staff
President Michael D Higgins has paid tribute to former Olympian and athletics commentator Jerry Kiernan following his death.
The 67-year-old represented Ireland at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, placing ninth in the men’s marathon.
Kiernan went on to train many of Ireland’s top athletics talents, including middle-distance runners John Travers and Ciara Mageean.
“The death of Jerry Kiernan, Olympian, sports commentator and athletics coach will have been heard with sadness by all those in the sports community and those who enjoyed his voice in commentary. His achievements in 1984, and his enduring coaching legacy will be long remembered.”
Olympian Jerry Kiernan dies aged 67
Updated / Thursday, 21 Jan 2021
22:03
Irish Olympian Jerry Kiernan has died at the age of 67.
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.
He won the Dublin Marathon in 1982 and 1992 and was the seventh Irishman to run a sub-four-minute mile. He also won the national cross country title in 1984.
Kiernan would go on to coach a number of athletes including middle-distance runner Ciara Mageean.
Tributes have been paid from the athletic world and beyond to one of Ireland s foremost Olympians, Jerry Kiernan, who has died aged 67: https://t.co/Wkibo0WQxfpic.twitter.com/UdBWFavjd3