RIP Jerry Kiernan

Ceepo

Shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden death of Jerry Kiernan.

A phenomenon athlete and a wealth of knowledge.

May he rest in peace.

https://clonliffeharriersac.com/shock-passing-of-clonliffe-olympian-jerry-kiernan/

MY BAD

I'm genuinely shocked to hear this sad news. RIP

BeepBeep67

Wow, out of the blue.
RIP

pconn062

Very, very sad. One of the great Irish athletes, hard as nails. Also enjoyed his contributions to athletics on RTE, didn't always agree but always interesting.

Annie get your Run

That is a big shock. My mum worked with Jerry for years in Cabinteely, he was her favourite staff member and she often talked about his work ethic and communication skills with the kids. Sad to read this today. RIP.

bocaman

Shocking news one of our finest athletes.

ultrapercy

Shocked and saddened to hear of the loss of this legend so soon after the passing of Pat Hooper. He was held in high regard by runners of all standards that he coached largely for free I believe. A huge loss to the sport RIP.

Pherekydes

Very shocked. RIP.

MrMusician18

pconn062 wrote: »

Very, very sad. One of the great Irish athletes, hard as nails. Also enjoyed his contributions to athletics on RTE, didn't always agree but always interesting.

Indeed. His punditry was always honest even if uncomfortable. If he thought someone wasn't good enough to be competing that level or ran within themselves he wasn't afraid to say it.

paddy no 11

Terrible news, watching an Olympics won't be the same

RIP Jerry

Ah jaysus, used to love him during the Olympics coverage.

diego_b

Very sorry to hear that news about his passing. Another Irish legend of the sport gone. I always enjoyed when he was doing punditry with Sonia or Derval on RTE.
Sounded like a very decent man with how he worked with athletes when they came to him. His approach with Ciara Mageean on her rehab from surgery early in her career is something that stuck with me when I read about it a few years back
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-20409837.html
RIP

Snickers Man

Very sad. I enjoyed his insights as an analyst. Cranky old bollox but articulate and honest. The sort of person you need on a good panel.
RIP

Arduach

I played GAA myself. But I had to agree with his analysis of the fitness of gaelic players in general. Many thought they were a lot fitter than they were/are and didn't realise how seriously fit and the effort needed to be of international athlete status.

jmm111

Absolute legend.
Saw him in his prime win in Cork marathons in 83 and 84.
RIP.

KSU

ultrapercy wrote: »

Shocked and saddened to hear of the loss of this legend so soon after the passing of Pat Hooper. He was held in high regard by runners of all standards that he coached largely for free I believe. A huge loss to the sport RIP.

Joe Cooper at Clonliffe also. Huge hole ripped in the distance coaching circles in this country.

Kiernan really gave everything to the sport, not always people's cup of tea with straight talking nature but his passion was without question.While people will remember the big names he coached I think it is underestimated just how many people he helped across the country of all levels quietly

Larbre34

The words 'not everyones cup of tea' were taken right out of my mouth. However I think thats a positive.

I knew Jerry as a teacher in times past, I admired his ethics greatly, he was a no bull**** taskmaster. I also deeply admire anyone that sets a high bar and whose default setting was to have no time for sporting administrators.

Very sad for his family and that he didn't get to enjoy longer years of a well deserved retirement. He had a lot more left to offer young athletes too.

RIP.

Girly Gal

Absolutely shocked and saddened at his sudden passing. Loved his straight talking no nonsense punditry and his passion for athletics really shone through. May he rest in peace

Jerry Atrick

RIP...one of the best pundits out there, in any sport, most recently.

Ceepo

KSU wrote: »

Joe Cooper at Clonliffe also. Huge hole ripped in the distance coaching circles in this country.

Kiernan really everything to the sport, not always people's cup of tea with straight talking nature but his passion was without question.While people will remember the big names he coached I think it is underestimated just how many people he helped across the country of all levels quietly

Agree 100% with you. 3 terrific people gone from Irish athletics.
And as you said, it wasn't just the high profile athletes that benefit from their knowledge, but athletes at all levels.
Whilst I didn't always agree with Jerry, I loved his no BS views. When someone didn't perform he called them on it, but equally I remember him trying to putting how athlete's performed into context, such as they were up against the best in the world.

Jerry played a huge role in Irish athletics as an athlete, a coach and a pundit, truly a sad day for athletics in Ireland

Condolence to his family and friends on their loss.

Cartman78

Genuinely got a shock when I heard the news.

Hugely talented athlete and incredibly knowledgeable analyst.....will be a huge loss to the athletics community in Ireland.

I spoke to him briefly a couple of years ago at the Dungarvan 10 mile race...he was generous with his time (I suspect I wasn't the only middle aged fella that was bothering him that day), I remember asking him was he still running and he said with more than a hint of sadness that he was "only walking these days" which I thought was a very honest and poignant thing to say. RIP

mr c

A Lovely man and also an Excellent Teacher RIP ,very sorry to hear of his passing.

yosser hughes

I'm really saddened to hear this. I had a lot of respect for him and his straight talking style. Called things as they were.
We need more people like Jerry on our TV screens, sadly we are getting less.
So young to die.
R.I.P.

RIP

Always found him interesting as a pundit and of course he was an accomplished athlete and respected coach.

MonkieSocks

I remember staying up late to watch the 1984 Olympic marathon.

I as glad when Tracy got second place, but when Jimmy McGee said "And Jerry Kiernan is in the stadium" the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

I as delighted for him, on a great night for Irish Athletics with Dick Hooper coming in 51st place

Lovely man and a very competitive Athlete

R.I.P

velo.2010

Sad to hear of his passing. Always liked him on RTE and his willingness to put any presenter in their place if they spoke some nonsense on an athletics related issue. I remember him agreeing with Michael Johnson about the merits of Michael Phelps' multiple gold medals haul not being greater than Bolt's number because of the various strokes in swimming.

I agree with others who note the increasing lack of voices like Kiernan's in sports broadcasting. For this, he will be missed.

djemba djemba

Where to begin…

22/8/17. The first day I approached Jerry in UCD to join his training group. Everything changed from there.
I am grateful for every minute of those days to his passing.

I don’t know what it was about him but he had this aura that attracted people to him. He didn’t care what type of runner you were, how fast you could run, he just liked people who ran. He loved athletics and just wanted to see the sport he loved get the respect and credit it and its athletes deserved.

During a session he would stand in his corner when we would do laps and laps or whatever the session was and as you came around you would wait for the ‘Very good Darren’ and you would be half way around before you came down of the high.

I remember so many Tuesdays coming away from UCD absolutely buzzing after a session. Once Jerry gave me an unconditional compliment, I couldn’t wait to get back to my car to send a message to a friend of mine telling him what Jerry said to me. Unconditional compliments were rare, most of his compliments to me had a suffix such as ‘for a GAA player.’ Through his methods, advice and experiences he brought a former GAA player to a 2:43 marathon and proud to call myself an athlete.

I am no class of runner, but after every race Jerry would expect the first call. I remember a 5 mile race back in Wexford. I rang Jerry leaving the car park. I was close to Bray by the time the phonecall ended. It was only a 30 minute race.
Also another time after Mallow 10. I rang Jerry and he asked me to compare it to Dungarvan 10. I was hyming and hawing and couldn’t really tell him. So the phonecall ended. 15 minutes later the phone rings back and its Jerry again he had rang one of his international athletes to get there opinion and then he could give me a full debrief.

This is just his coaching I could fill another post about his own career. Most of the time you would need to drag the information out of him but he stories were worth it. He would always keep us guessing about the session we would do but at 6:25, he would call us in and give us the news of the session and share a story and some great advice. His last words would always be make sure you have enough left to do another one or two at the end. Even with the lockdown his instructions would be you should be able to do another 5 minutes at the end.

I often asked him about his TV work. The amount of research he did was amazing, he would go through every athlete who qualified for whatever championship he was working on.

Coincidently, we would cross paths in our work life too. His reputation as teacher was impeccable and years on former students, always spoke highly of him and them of him. In this respect he was also a role model to me.

I will miss him more than I can ever put into words. He was a coach, a role model, a confidant and in a short period of time a father figure to me. I told him things, that people who have known me years will never know.
I am rambling now, through tears I am writing this and every time I think I am finished I write a bit more. Over the years I have spoken to people about Jerry and they can sense my passion when I talk about him but they ask me why, what is it about him? I can never answer, it was whatever he had you just felt better in his company.

We have lost one of the very best today. Someone who taught me to be true to myself, never be afraid to speak my mind and always make time to run. I intend to run later on tonight, whether I am motivated to or not but as every kilometre ticks by I will hear him say ‘Very Good, Darren.’

Rest In Peace Boss. You have impacted me in a way you will never know. Festina Lente.

Rega

djemba djemba wrote: »

Where to begin…

22/8/17. The first day I approached Jerry in UCD to join his training group. Everything changed from there.
I am grateful for every minute of those days to his passing.

I don’t know what it was about him but he had this aura that attracted people to him. He didn’t care what type of runner you were, how fast you could run, he just liked people who ran. He loved athletics and just wanted to see the sport he loved get the respect and credit it and its athletes deserved.

During a session he would stand in his corner when we would do laps and laps or whatever the session was and as you came around you would wait for the ‘Very good Darren’ and you would be half way around before you came down of the high.

I remember so many Tuesdays coming away from UCD absolutely buzzing after a session. Once Jerry gave me an unconditional compliment, I couldn’t wait to get back to my car to send a message to a friend of mine telling him what Jerry said to me. Unconditional compliments were rare, most of his compliments to me had a suffix such as ‘for a GAA player.’ Through his methods, advice and experiences he brought a former GAA player to a 2:43 marathon and proud to call myself an athlete.

I am no class of runner, but after every race Jerry would expect the first call. I remember a 5 mile race back in Wexford. I rang Jerry leaving the car park. I was close to Bray by the time the phonecall ended. It was only a 30 minute race.
Also another time after Mallow 10. I rang Jerry and he asked me to compare it to Dungarvan 10. I was hyming and hawing and couldn’t really tell him. So the phonecall ended. 15 minutes later the phone rings back and its Jerry again he had rang one of his international athletes to get there opinion and then he could give me a full debrief.

This is just his coaching I could fill another post about his own career. Most of the time you would need to drag the information out of him but he stories were worth it. He would always keep us guessing about the session we would do but at 6:25, he would call us in and give us the news of the session and share a story and some great advice. His last words would always be make sure you have enough left to do another one or two at the end. Even with the lockdown his instructions would be you should be able to do another 5 minutes at the end.

I often asked him about his TV work. The amount of research he did was amazing, he would go through every athlete who qualified for whatever championship he was working on.

Coincidently, we would cross paths in our work life too. His reputation as teacher was impeccable and years on former students, always spoke highly of him and them of him. In this respect he was also a role model to me.

I will miss him more than I can ever put into words. He was a coach, a role model, a confidant and in a short period of time a father figure to me. I told him things, that people who have known me years will never know.
I am rambling now, through tears I am writing this and every time I think I am finished I write a bit more. Over the years I have spoken to people about Jerry and they can sense my passion when I talk about him but they ask me why, what is it about him? I can never answer, it was whatever he had you just felt better in his company.

We have lost one of the very best today. Someone who taught me to be true to myself, never be afraid to speak my mind and always make time to run. I intend to run later on tonight, whether I am motivated to or not but as every kilometre ticks by I will hear him say ‘Very Good, Darren.’

Rest In Peace Boss. You have impacted me in a way you will never know. Festina Lente.

A lovely tribute. I'm sorry for your loss.

Lad GAGA

Djemba, djemba that was a beautiful, heartfelt piece, you have done yourself and Jerry proud with it. May he rest in peace and may you continue on the road he would have wanted you to continue on.

donfers

Super pundit, unafraid to express his opinion and be honest. A very rare thing compared to all the bland inoffensive soundalike pundits out there nowadays who talk a lot but say very little. All style and no substance whereas Jerry and he'll hopefully forgive me for saying this, god rest his soul, was the opposite of that. A mullet well past its sell by date and a fashion sense that had no sense but so authentic, and a man of incredible integrity and substance. In many ways Jerry was the antithesis of everything that our vacuous media prizes these days. Will miss him greatly.

thehairygrape

Djemba djemba.
Lovely tribute to a great hero of mine. I only met him briefly once when my legs gave out just after the 20 mile mark in the Limerick marathon. Who was standing there all on his own but Jerry Kiernan. ‘Tough it out’ he said. The sheer shame iof stopping in front of such a legend spurred me on to a PB. I most certainly didn’t stop again! Great athlete. Great commentator. I’m still going to claim he coached me for all of 10 seconds. Condolences to his family and friends.

esposito

Used to see him in the bookies sometimes. Great for a chat. Anyone know what age he was? I'm guessing late 60s?

RIP Jerry

Lost Ormond

esposito wrote: »

Used to see him in the bookies sometimes. Great for a chat. Anyone know what age he was? I'm guessing late 60s?

67.
Attended his school but moved before was taught by him. But he was great with all.

Such great athlete and was great on tv at the major championships

I taught fitness in a gym in Rathmines in the early 1980's where Jerry Kiernan used to train. He was lovely and I was in awe of him and even had a bit of a crush on him. I often thought of him in the intervening years and heard him on RTE regularly. He was one of a kind and today I am very sad at his sudden passing...........far too young to go. RIP lovely Jerry.

Arghus

I know absolutely nothing about athletics, but I really used to love seeing Jerry Kiernan on the panel every four years at Olympics time.

Thought he was great: opinionated, took no nonsense, clearly loved the sport.

And, clearly, he was a man of multiple accomplishments and meant a lot to a great deal of people.

So I was very sad to read about his passing today.

RIP.

griffin100

I remember about 20 years ago when I was a student I was working as a security driver in UCD. Myself and another lad were driving around the grassy area off Fosters Avenue when we seen this wild looking man with a mullet shouting at female runners as they came past him and waving his hands about in a very animated fashion. We had visions of some madman attacking women on campus but when we sped over to where he was and confronted him it was Jerry Kiernan coaching some runners. He thought it was very funny. I recognised him even though I had only a passing interest in athletics, he was one of the most familiar faces of Irish track and field.

RIP

walshb

Only 67. Young enough. And always looked so fit. And obviously was a fit fit man

Very sad. I always enjoyed listening to Jerry. Very enthusiastic and knowledgeable, as well as interesting.

Has the cause of death been released?

CIARAN_BOYLE

Thoughts and prayers to Jerry's family.

As a teenager 15 years ago he used to coach the running club I was in. I stopped running with a club but once or twice a year I'd be running myself and pass Jerry out on his own runs.

Without fail one of us would change direction and we would do a mile or two together catching up and having a chat.

Jerry was a true gent and I extend my deepest condolences to his family.

Exceptional in so many aspects of life. A world class athlete, a loved teacher, a brilliant coach and a great friend full of wit and intellect.

Very sad to hear the news. Rest in peace.

PropJoe10

Beautiful words there from Djemba. I'm sorry for your loss.

Was genuinely saddened to hear this news today. Jerry was an outstanding sportsman (before my time) but I thought he was a really terrific analyst. Genuinely insightful, honest and wonderfully knowledgeable. A very under-appreciated pundit, and listening to him talking about athletics on RTE was always a genuine highlight of the Olympic Games coverage every 4 years.

Sincere condolences to his family.

supremenovice

I didn't know him in his competitive days, but I always loved him on analysis for the Olympics and World Championships. So much so, that I would stay with RTE coverage just to hear his analysis, despite the BBC having great analysts of their own. Kind of a Dunphy-esque, cut through the crap analysis that people get on board with. RIP Jerry.

Nunu

Djemba Djemba that is one gem of a post. Thank you and I’m so sorry for your personal loss.

I’ll leave it at that, thread needs nothing more than your perfect contribution.

R.I.P. Jerry.

6run28

Very very sad news. RIP Jerry

EndaHonesty

I don't normally post is RIP threads but I have to say I was genuinely shocked and saddened when I heard the news today.

I'm not a particularly sporty person, I enjoy watching all sports and don't have any strong affiliations with any one code, but whenever I heard Jerry passionately extoling the virtues of athletics, especially in comparison to other sports, and even more especially when he was comparing it to his hated GAA, I have to say I found it compelling.
I believed him immediately and absolutely.

I don't know enough about any sport to say if he is/was right or wrong, but I believed him, and if I'm honest, his conviction on the subject has me pretty much convinced forever.

Athletics in Ireland were lucky to have Jerry, I hope he was appreciated by them. Sport and society could use more people like Jerry. It's a great pity he's been taken so young.

Sincere condolences to his family and friends. RIP Jerry.

secman

I'm just 4 years younger than Jerry, remember him well as a fierce competitive athlete, had it all, 1500m, 10,000m to Marathon. A brilliant coach, and an absolutely outstanding analyst pundit on RTE. His love of FC Barcelona is just brilliant when you consider he hailed from Kerry and from an era of that Kerry team.. By all accounts he was a talented teacher, never had the pleasure of having a conversation with him, and to all those who had over the years, count your blessings. He will be sorely missed by his family, athletics community, friends , people with a passing interest in athletics watching him on telly doing his analysis in an absolute unique way. So so sad and shocked tonight to hear of his death. Heaven just got so much more interesting. RIP Jerry.

walshb

Anyone know what subjects he taught in school?

I’m assuming he was a secondary school teacher?

Down South

walshb wrote: »

Anyone know what subjects he taught in school?

I’m assuming he was a secondary school teacher?

Primary I think

Lost Ormond

walshb wrote: »

Anyone know what subjects he taught in school?

I’m assuming he was a secondary school teacher?

He was a primary teacher. St Brigids. Cabinteely

John_Rambo

I've just put two and two together and realised Jerry was a neighbour of mine for a short time. I just didn't think it could be him, to fit, to lively, to nice. What a lovely lovely man. Terrible news.

sligeach

Genuinely shocked and saddened at this news. I always enjoyed his input on the athletics on TV. RIP Jerry, and condolences to his family and friends.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Total athletics layperson wading into the thread here but I’m so sad to hear this news. I loved Jerry’s Olympics analysis. He was really good at aiming his analysis at neophytes like me. Lovely voice too. RIP, Jerry and condolences to his family if any of you read this thread.