Former Cork Olympian dies at the age of 38

A wave of shock has rippled across Ireland’s athletics community with news of the sudden death of former Irish Olympian and Cork native, Ciarán Ó Lionáird.

It is understood that Ó Lionáird was found dead in Montreal on Tuesday morning. He had been based in the US since 2011.

A talented and prolific athlete from a young age, Ó Lionáird 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.

Recurring injuries would plague his short career leading him to retire from the sport at the age of 28. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Ó Lionáird announced his decision to return to the sport aged 32 with his sights set on qualifying for the postponed Olympic Games in Tokyo, only for illness to force him to retire again in 2020. Ó Lionáird grew up near Macroom in West Cork, attending De La Salle College where he was an Irish Schools 1,500 metre champion. He first took up running at age seven with West Muskerry Athletics Club, but at age 12 joined Leevale where he improved his times and ran an Irish Youths indoor record of 3:50 at age 16. He announced himself on the world stage at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, 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 message posted online by Cork Athletics read: “Everyone at Cork Athletics extends their deepest condolences to Ciaran’s family and friends. RIP.”