STATEMENT: Cliona O’Leary, Deputy Head of TV Sport, RTÉ, on the passing of Jerry Kiernan

Cliona O’Leary, Deputy Head of TV Sport, RTÉ, commenting on the sad passing of Jerry Kiernan said:

“We are all devastated; Jerry brought so much passion, honesty, humour and warmth to our coverage across three decades of Olympics, National, European and World Athletics Championships and Cross-Country Championships, and to everything he did. He was a great friend as well as a superb analyst; he was so knowledgeable across so many subjects, and what really stood out was his interest in other people and his desire to see them be the best they could be.

Jerry brought so much to every encounter; it is so hard to believe that we have lost such a force of nature. We are all so sad to have lost such a great friend and colleague in RTÉ Sport and we send our sincere sympathies to Jerry’s family and loved ones. We are thinking of them at this extremely difficult time.”

Image shows Jerry Kiernan at the launch in RTÉ of RTÉ Sport’s 2016 Olympics coverage alongside from left to right – Gavin Noble, Derval O’Rourke, David Gillick, Ailis McSweeney and Eanna Bailey