RIP Jerry Kiernan

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 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.

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?

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.

Very very sad news. RIP Jerry

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 wrote: »

Anyone know what subjects he taught in school?

I’m assuming he was a secondary school teacher?

Primary I think

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.

Very upsetting to hear the news of the passing of Jerry Kiernan. He has been such an enormous part of Irish athletics for several decades.

First as an athlete, finishing 9th in the marathon at 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. His performance was overshadowed by John Treacy winning the silver medal in the same race, but it was a truly special run in its own right.

He was best known to non-athletics folk for his brilliant punditry for RTE's athletics coverage. A straight shooter, he wasn't one to soften his words, and he often rubbed people up the wrong way. But, while I didn't always agree with what he said, more often than not he was right on the money with his comments. He made RTE's athletics coverage truly entertaining, much like how Eamonn Dunphy and George Hook did for soccer and rugby. In ways you could say he transcended the sport, in that the average Irish sports fan, who might not have followed athletics, knew who he was, and knew his analysis was essential viewing.

He has given back to the sport at every level, not just coaching elite athletes like Ciara Mageean and John Travers, but also people trying to break 3 hours for the marathon. He didn't discriminate against athletes based on talent. From what I've been told, all he expected is that everyone he coached tried their best and put the work in.

I didn't know him personally. I met him a few times, and regularly saw him wandering around Irishtown when coaching his athletes, and at various grassroots athletics meets.

One interaction sticks out for me though. At the 2017 National Championships in Santry, I had just finished my 200m race, was still standing at the finish line, and when my result came up on the big clock, I lost myself with excitement, running 24 seconds for the first (and only) time. Seconds later that familiar voice appeared from behind my back. It was Jerry who was asking me had I just run a PB, and we ended up talking for a couple of minutes. He encouraged me to push on for 23 seconds (which I knew deep down was beyond my capabilities). I had finished last in my heat, and there were infinitely more talented athletes in Santry that day, but he still had an interest in how I got on. It just highlighted to me how much he loved the sport. I'll never forget that moment.

RIP Jerry. Irish athletics will be the poorer for your loss.

Great to read such positive comments about him..

I’ve always felt that the mark of a real good person is their interest in others, and their wanting to help...their giving their time to others!

Reading the comments from people that have been in his company really does paint this picture..

A teacher through and through!