Jeremiah Kiernan (31 May 1953 – 21 January 2021) was an Irish long-distance runner.[1]
Kiernan was born in Listowel, County Kerry. He represented his native country at the 1984 Summer OlympicsinLos Angeles, California, where he finished in ninth place in the men's marathon.[2] His teammate, John Treacy, claimed silver in the same race.[3][4] Kiernan twice won the Dublin Marathon, in 1982 and 1992,[5] as well as in Belfast in 1990 and in 1992. He also won the national cross country title in 1984. A former Irish record holder over 3000 metres, Kiernan was a sub-four-minute mile runner being the seventh Irish runner to break that barrier in June 1976.[6]
Kiernan represented Ireland 17 times between 1975 and 1993, competing seven times in world cross-country championships, and won five Irish titles, from the 1,500m to the marathon, and also national inter-club and inter-county cross-country titles.[citation needed]
His running club in Dublin was Clonliffe Harriers. Kiernan coached many athletes including Ciara Mageean and trained regularly in the UCD campus.[7]
He was a regular part of RTÉ's athletics television coverage.[8][9]
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing  Ireland
| ||||
| 1984 | Olympic Games | Los Angeles, United States | 9th | 2:12:20 |
Kiernan taught at St. Brigid's Boys School, Foxrock,[2] for approximately 40 years until retiring in June 2013.[10]
Kiernan died on 21 January 2021, aged 67.[11]
