‘Knocked me for six’ – Ciara Mageean gives update on cancer treatment after withdrawing from RTE panel for Europeans

CIARA MAGEEAN gave an update on her cancer treatment after having to withdraw from the RTE panel for the European Athletics Championships.

Mageean, 34, was due to work for RTE as an analyst for the championships which started on Monday.

But in a video uploaded to Instagram, the Portaferry woman revealed that she had to step away as a result of the side effects of chemotherapy.

She said: “As many of you will have seen, I was hoping to be on the RTE panel for this upcoming European Championships, but unfortunately, I’ve had to withdraw as I’ve started another round of chemotherapy, and the treatment has kind of knocked me for six.

“So I’m so disappointed to not be on the panel, giving my thoughts and opinions on the championship.

“But I’m so grateful to RTE for that opportunity and for their understanding that whenever we planned this, things might not necessarily go according to plan.

“I want to wish our team the very best of luck. This is going to be an amazing European champs.

“So everybody, get behind our entire team, and I’m also really grateful for the few interviews I got to do before treatment started.

“But yeah, I’m so disappointed not to be on the panel but I will be cheering everybody on from my sofa in Belfast.”

The Irish athletics legend is living with stage four bowel cancer having revealed her diagnosis last year.

The Portaferry woman enjoyed a welcome reprieve when she was honoured at the National Track & Field Championships.

Mageean was joined by 400 juvenile athletes from across Ireland for the special ‘Run with Ciara’ celebration.

The 150m tribute provided one of the defining moments of the Championships, as the Irish athletics community came together to support one of the country’s greatest-ever athletes.

And emotional Mageean told RTE: “The support of everyone is keeping me going. I feel truly lucky to be from a community like this.”

Mageean further reflected on the occasion in an Instagram post. She emphasized: “What a special moment. Thank you so much!”

Fellow legends of Irish athletics Sonia O’Sullivan, Derval O’Rourke and Rob Heffernan were on commentary duty across RTE’s broadcast with the Sydney Olympics silver medallist hailing it as a “fitting tribute”.

Mageean was similarly honoured at half-time of Limerick’s win over Galway in the All-Ireland senior hurling final at Croke Park.

The PA announcer rattled off just some of her leading athletics accolades while directing attendees to pay attention as she made her way out of the tunnel in what was a lovely moment midway through Limerick’s victory.

The former camogie player has since reflected on the kind gesture granted onto her by GAA chiefs.

She posted on Instagram: “What a day! Thank you so much to everyone in Croke Park for such a kind welcome.

“Special shout-out to a fellow Portaferry woman Niamh Mallon in the tunnel, hopefully get to watch her in Croke in a few weeks’ time.”