Truly devastating news.
The Irish athletics community has been shocked and saddened by the death of brave athlete and straight-talking pundit Jerry Kiernan at the age of just 67.
Born in Listowel, Kerry, the flamboyant Kiernan made a name for himself as one of Ireland's toughest and most talented distance runners for his club Clonliffe Harriers in Dublin.
Kiernan's career highlight was his ninth place finish in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, and he was one of the main men in a golden era for Irish distance running. Dublin marathon wins in '82 and '92 represent some of his finest days on the road.
When the sun eventually set on his own career, Kiernan tirelessly gave back to the sport he loved as a coach and a volunteer. Among the athletes he has passed on his love for the game to as a coach include Ciara Mageen and John Travers, who blossomed under his watch.
https://twitter.com/irishathletics/status/1352257974744600578
From there, if ever you wanted a person to call a spade a spade in the world of athletics, Kiernan was your man and that was exactly what he did for years as the heartbeat of RTÉ's athletics coverage.
May the trailblazer Rest in Peace.
