I was saddened to hear of the death of Irish Olympic champion and running great Ronnie Delany today. Ronnie, who won gold for Ireland in the 1956 Melbourne games, was a role model to athletes at home and abroad. Throughout his brief athletic career, Ronnie inspired young Irish runners to follow their dreams. His remarkable victory in Australia marked the first gold medal for Ireland in two decades, since Bob Tisdall and Pat O’Callaghan won gold in 1932 – and would mark a high point for Irish sport until 1992 in Barcelona.

Ronnie retired young, due to injuries, on the very same day he proposed to his beloved Joan. He went on to work for Aer Lingus and B&I Line, before setting up his own business in sports marketing and consultancy.

His legacy lives on in Delany Park, in his native Arklow, named in his honour; and also in the thousands upon thousands of Irish milers, middle distance runners and other athletes following in his footsteps. My thoughts are with Joan and all Ronnie’s family and friends at this time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

I was sorry to hear of Ronnie Delany’s passing. His 1956 gold medal win inspired generations of Irish athletes to take up their spikes and get running and was the foundation for the success of such athletes as Sonia O’Sullivan and John Treacy.

Ronnie was a deeply committed family man, devoted to his wife Joan, his children, and his grandchildren, and I want to express my condolences to them at this time.