Ronnie Delany

This week Ireland lost a sporting legend and a man who seemed to have been universally well liked by anyone who met him, if the online tributes are anything to go by.

Ronnie Delany was an Olympian and an Irish hero, winning a gold medal for Ireland at the Melbourne games in 1956. Ireland would wait another 36 years before we experienced another gold when Michael Carruth won gold for boxing in 1992.

Anyone who knows me at all, knows I have little interest (actually no interest) in sport. I think the only time I ever watched sport was during Italia ’90 and that was because there was literally nothing else to do… or indeed to talk about.

But I had of course heard of Ronnie Delany. Then my bother married Ronnie’s daughter and we were extended family. Anytime I met him over the years I found him to be a warm, supportive and generous man. Generous with his time and his positive outlook on life.

Back when I hardly knew the man, in fact I think my brother may have been ‘only’ a fiancé when I needed a big favour. I was working for The Alzheimer Society of Ireland as PRO and Fundraising Manager and had set up National Tea Day as the Society’s main fundraising event.

Publicity was (and still is) vital to the success of any fundraising and it was a big part of my job and not always easy back when few people had ever heard of Alzheimer’s Disease, let along knew what it was. TV3 had arrived on the media landscape and Ireland AM was born. I had been pitching the idea of a collaboration with them to promote Tea Day and finally I got the green light.

We were hosting a Tea Morning at the Aer Corps HQ in Baldonnel and Ireland AM came to cover the event. But they needed a celebrity attendee who could add some stardust and interest for the viewer. This was a last-minute request and I had no contact for any celebs I could call on. So, I called my brother and asked for Ronnie’s number.

Then I called Ronnie and asked if there might be any way he could get to Baldonnel at the crack of dawn for our Tea Day event and have a chat with Alan Hughes on live TV. He agreed without hesitation. And on the day, with a very brief briefing from yours truly, he brought grace and charisma to the broadcast along with reinforcing the message of support for our event and our work for people with dementia and their families.

I was so grateful to him. Not only because he did it so beautifully but because he immediately said yes when asked and got me out of a jam.

Over the years we met numerous times. And knowing him the bit I did, I know that his main focus in life was his wife Joan and his family. He was the quintessential family man. He was also, as so many have remarked this week, a true gentleman.

During Covid I wrote a piece for the Irish Independent about the heartache of not being able to see my daughter, my granddaughter and my newly arrived grandson in Perth, Western Australia. True to form when it was published I got a text from Ronnie.

It said

“Lovely piece in the Indo today. Joan and I wish you guys happiness. May you all get together soon. Love Ronnie”

His athletic achievement was huge, winning an Olympic gold medal and making this country so proud. But Ronnie never ever forgot that the most important thing in life is love… and for him that was family.

Thank you, Ronnie, for your friendship, your support and your kindness.

Ni bheidh a leitheid ann aris.