Shock across Irish athletics at death of former European medallist and 2012 Olympian Ciarán Ó Lionáird

IRISH athletics has been left in a state of shock after the death of 2012 Olympian Ciarán Ó Lionáird at the age of just 38.

The Cork native was found dead in Montreal, Canada on Tuesday having been based in the United States since 2011.

Tributes have poured in for the Leevale club member whom was always a very popular member of Team Ireland.

Despite his track career being blighted by injury, his accomplishments were still significant.

The pinnacle arguably came at the 2013 European Indoor Championships when he won a bronze medal in the men’s 3000m.

The year prior he had represented his country on the Olympic stage at the London Games.

He initially retired from the sport in 2016 but did return to the track in 2020 with his intention being to qualify for the Covid-delayed Olympics in Tokyo.

Unfortunately though, that plan was foiled by illness and he retired for good that same year.

Among the many tributes paid to him since word of his untimely passing broke was one on the Cork Athletics Facebook page.

It read: “Sad news announced this evening that Ciarán Ó Lionáird, Cork native and Leevale club member, passed away on Tuesday.

“Ciarán, who had been based in the US since 2011, gained considerable popularity during his relatively short international career and the news of his sudden death was greeted with similar shock throughout the wider athletics world.

“Ciarán grew up just outside Macroom, County Cork, Ireland, attending De La Salle College, Macroom, where he was an Irish Schools 1500 metre champion.

“Ciarán first took up running at age 7 with West Muskerry AC, but at age 12 joined Leevale.

“It was at Leevale that Ciarán improved his times and ran an Irish Youths indoor record of 3:50 at age 16.

“He went on to win a bronze medal at the Festival in Lignano in 2005 as well as taking 10th place in the World Youth Championships, both over the metric mile.

“Ciarán announced himself on the world stage at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, reaching the 1,500 metres final on his major championship debut and finishing 10th in the world.

“He went on to win bronze in the 3,000 metres at the 2013 European Athletics Indoor Championships – a result that underlined the quality he carried throughout his career despite the injury setbacks that defined his later years.

“He competed in the men’s 1,500 metres at the 2012 London Olympic Games, finishing 13th in his heat after an injury-hampered build-up.

“Growing up near Macroom, he took up running aged seven with West Muskerry AC and was breaking Irish middle-distance age records at nine and ten.

“He attended De La Salle College Macroom, won the Irish Schools 1,500m title, won bronze at the European Youth Olympic Festival in 2005 and finished 10th at the World Youth Championships in Morocco the same year.

“Everyone at Cork Athletics extends their deepest condolences to Ciarán’s family and friends. RIP.”