SONIA O’SULLIVAN was one of a number of Irish athletics legends who paid tribute to Ciarán Ó Lionáird following his tragic death.
The Cork native was found dead in Montreal, Canada on Tuesday aged 38 having been based in the United States since 2011.
His untimely passing has sent shockwaves across Irish athletics, with Sonia O’Sullivan among a number of pay tribute to the 2012 Olympian.
O’Sullivan, who won a silver medal at Sydney 2000, said: “So sorry to hear this sad news. Irish athlete, Irish Olympian Ciarán Ó Lionáird rest in peace.”
Ó Lionáird was part of the same team as fellow Cork natives Derval O’Rourke and Robert Heffernan who ran at London 2012.
And both athletes took to social media to offer their condolences following his passing.
Three-time Olympian O’Rourke said: “Deeply saddened to hear of Ciaran’s passing.
“He left Cork and chased lofty dreams and breathed rare air. Big successes and hard setbacks.
“Had so many facets to him. Thinking of his family and friends. A huge loss.”
Heffernan, meanwhile, said: “This is heartbreaking and really hard to take in.
“My thoughts are with his family. RIP Ciarán.”
These are but a sample of the 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.
“Everyone at Cork Athletics extends their deepest condolences to Ciarán’s family and friends. RIP.”
