Ciara Mageean, European 1500m champion, dies aged 34

Irish athlete Ciara Mageean, European 1500m champion in Rome 2024 and a two-time Olympian, died on Sunday 1 November aged 34. In July 2025 she had revealed that she had stage four bowel cancer.

Her family announced the news on her Instagram account: “At 6:30am this morning, Ciara lost her battle with cancer surrounded by her loved ones. A beloved daughter, sister, wife, friend and inspiration to so many, she will be deeply missed.”

A career built on perseverance

Born in Portaferry (County Down, Northern Ireland), Mageean ran the 1500m for Ireland at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. She was also due to compete in Paris 2024, but an Achilles injury ruled her out one day before her first heat.

That same year she achieved the greatest success of her career: European 1500m gold in Rome. She had previously won European bronze in 2016 and silver in 2022, as well as Commonwealth Games silver for Northern Ireland in 2022.

She held the Irish records at 800m (1:58.51), 1000m (2:31.06), 1500m (3:55.87) and the mile (4:14.58).

On the track until the end

Mageean married her long-term partner, Thomas Moran, in October in a ceremony at Belfast City Hall. In July she was guest of honour at the Irish National Championships, where the athletics community paid tribute to her with a run in her name.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio in June, she said she was determined to “fit as much living into the years I have left” and thanked the country for its support throughout her career.

Tributes

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was “deeply saddened”: “As European champion and an Olympian, she inspired so many with her outstanding performances and brought immense pride to Ireland.” The Olympic Federation of Ireland summed up the general feeling: “The country has lost a hero.”

Everyone at Running Valencia sends our condolences to her family, her friends and the whole of Irish athletics.