Strong Mayo representation among athletes supported by Jerry Kiernan Foundation
The Jerry Kiernan Foundation, established in 2021 to support elite athletes in their athletic development, has named 12 Irish athletes who will benefit from funding in excess of €30,000 for the year 2025.
There is strong Mayo representation among the list of athletes, as Oisín Joyce (Lake District AC), Hugh Armstrong (Ballina AC) and Keelan Kilrehill (Moy Valley AC) are all included.
This latest round of support brings the Jerry Kiernan Foundation’s total financial contribution to Irish athletics to over €100,000 since its launch four years ago. It was established in memory of the late Jerry Kiernan, who placed ninth in the 1984 LA Olympic marathon and dedicated his life to helping students and athletes achieve their potential in the classroom and on the track.
The Foundation has supported over 35 athletes, with recipients including Olympians, World Championship finalists, and European Championship medallists.
Noteworthy performances by supported athletes in the 2024/2025 season include: Nicola Tuthill, who represented Ireland in the hammer throw at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games; Cathal Doyle, a 1500m semi-finalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics; Jack Rafferty, who achieved a sixth-place finish in the mixed 400m relay at the World Championships; and Toluwabori Akinola, who secured his first senior national title in the 60m and recorded the fifth-fastest time in Irish history for the event.
The full list of athletes to be financially supported by the Jerry Kiernan Foundation in 2025 is as follows: Hugh Armstrong (marathon/half marathon), Oisín Joyce (javelin), Keelan Kilrehill (5k/3k), Dara Donoghue (800m), Shona Heaslip (marathon), Toluwabori Akinola (100m), Ryan Creech (marathon/half marathon), Joe Doody (400m), Ciara Neville (100/200m), Nicola Tuthill (hammer throw), John Fitzsimons (800m), Charlie O’Donovan (1500m).
The Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to its valued sponsors, whose continued generosity has been instrumental in making this support possible: John Buckley Sports (Cork), Davy, Sisk, Beauchamps, Roughan & O’Donovan, Santry Sports Clinic, Big Red Cloud, and CMC.
Announcing the awards, Jerry Kiernan Foundation chairperson Murt Coleman said: “Working with the current committee of seven, we have stabilised our finances and grown our revenue incrementally, and we will use our expertise to further strengthen our financial position for the continued benefit of our athletes. This year the Foundation has shown incremental growth with the support of our generous sponsors and donors.”
The Jerry Kiernan Foundation is a not-for-profit charity and is funded exclusively through donations and sponsorship. Individuals or organisations interested in assisting directly can donate through the website or directly via email to info@jerrykiernanfoundation.org. The Foundation is also seeking long-term partnerships with corporates and individuals on a structured basis to fund its objectives. For more information, log on to www.jerrykiernanfoundation.org.