The couple had been married for 64 years and will be missed by their four children and 14 grandchildren
Ronnie Delany with his wife, Joan, and his grandchildren at the official unveiling in Arklow of a statue in his honour in 2021. Photo: Michael Kelly
The funeral of Ronnie Delany. Photo: Collins
Joan Delany, the wife of the late Irish Olympic gold medalist Ronnie Delany who passed away 10 days ago, has died.
Ronnie (91), originally from Arklow, Co Wicklow, was the last Irish track and field athlete to win an Olympic gold medal for Ireland having won the 1500 metres at the 1956 games in Melbourne at the tender age of 21 with a record-breaking last-lap sprint, finishing in 3:41.2.
He was buried on Monday in Dublin.
Tragically, his beloved wife of 64 years, Joan (née Riordan), died two days after his burial.
Joan was from Dublin and formerly resided in Dundrum and Carrickmines. She passed away surrounded by her family at Blackrock Clinic.
Ronnie Delany with his wife, Joan, and his grandchildren at the official unveiling in Arklow of a statue in his honour in 2021. Photo: Michael Kelly
News in 90 seconds – March 21
Her removal to St. Brigid’s Church, Cabinteely will take place at 11am this morning for Requiem Mass, followed by a private cremation service.
Joan and Ronnie got engaged in 1961, a year after Ronnie was eliminated in the 800m heats at the 1960 Rome Olympics and subsequently announced his retirement from athletics, aged 26. On the same day of his retirement, Ronnie announced their engagement.
He and Joan had four children together, all of whom attended the unveiling of a statue to him in his native Arklow in 2021 along with his 14 grandchildren.
At Ronnie’s funeral service this week, his and Joan’s son, Ronnie Delany Jr, gave a passionate eulogy during the funeral mass, addressing his mother – a promise he’d kept to his father.
“Dad’s life was complete the day he met Joan Riordan,” Delany said. “He had to fight to get her attention. When he got a date, his life changed; he got his second gold medal.
“They travelled the world together … The most important thing in dad’s life was living for and with mum. He loved her from the moment he set eyes on her. He said how beautiful she was. Dad would never introduce her as his wife; he’d introduce her as ‘Joan, my beautiful wife’.”
