The 1984 Rás Tailteann winner Stephen Delaney has passed away. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
Stephen’s death notice:
DELANEY – Stephen (Steve) (Castleknock, Dublin 15) August 26th, 2026 (peacefully) surrounded by his loving family and in the care of the staff at St. Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown. Beloved husband of Deborah (Debbie) and much-loved father of Max and Adam.
Sadly missed by his loving wife, daughter, son, mother Maeve, father Paul, brother John, mother-in-law Josephine, father-in-law Don, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and colleagues, athletes and friends, especially those from Triathlon Ireland, 3D Triathlon Club and from his proud cycling career. Reposing at Cunningham’s Funeral Home, Blanchardstown on Sunday evening (August 30th) from 5.00pm to 7.00pm.
Removal on Monday morning (August 31st) to St. Mochta’s Church, Porterstown arriving for Funeral Mass at 11.00am followed by a private family cremation. Donations, in lieu of flowers to St. Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown.
Saturday 27th June 2026 – As the 2026 Irish Road Racing Championships are about to get underway in Cong, and a whole new generation and future generation of Irish Champions set out for glory, a small hat tip to a legend in Irish Cycling, who has been poorly of late battling illness: 1984 Rás Tailteann winner Stephen Delaney.
All the more poignant as 1984 Stage 2 arrival and Stage 3 departure were in Ballinasloe, about an hour’s drive from these 2026 Irish Cycling Championships.
Rás Tailteann 1984
In the summer of 1984, 21-year-old Dubliner Stephen Delaney delivered a standout performance to win the prestigious FBD Milk Rás Tailteann. Riding for the strong Dublin Leyland team, Delaney secured the overall yellow jersey after 1984 Rás Tailteann 9-day 13-stage race over approximately 1,300 kilometres!
Midway through the race, Delaney “the freckled-faced hero” was already generating headlines. The “chubby, young stylist” from Dublin was a serious threat to the early leader, Seamus Downey.
Delaney’s ambition was to the fore with his key contributions to significant breakaways, and his aggressive riding in a dominant seven-man move on Stage 4 from Limerick to Tralee.
Though Gearóid Costelloe took the stage win that day, Delaney’s consistency and ability to stay with the front group marked him as the rider of the moment.
Delaney fire posing threat!
Delaney’s decisive edge came on the mountain time trial stages, particularly his strong climbing performances,
which allowed him to build and defend his lead.
He benefited from excellent teamwork, with teammates like Aidan Harrison, Shane Clarke, Mick McLynskey, and others providing crucial support throughout the event.
When the race concluded in early July, Delaney stood atop the general classification with a winning time of 31 hours 34 minutes.
“For the first time this week, I awoke with no sore legs.”
Stephane Delaney, 1984 Rás Tailteann
John Shortt of Galway finished second at nearly three minutes back, followed by Raphael Kimmage, Jimmy McQuillan, and others in a competitive field that included strong Scottish, Welsh, and Irish squads.
How it all unravelled
Scotland claimed the team prize, while Delaney’s victory was celebrated as a triumph for the deep talent emerging from the Dublin club scene.
Delaney’s Rás success came during a golden era for Irish cycling, with stars like Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche shining on the world stage.
His win added to a growing list of domestic achievements and led to further honours, including the Irish National Time Trial Championship. He went on to represent Ireland internationally, including in events like the Nissan Classic.
After retiring from competitive cycling, Delaney transitioned successfully into coaching.
Coaching
He served as Performance Director and National Development Coach for Triathlon Ireland, guiding athletes to Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and Ironman events.
1984 Rás Tailteann Stage Winners
- Stage 1A: Crumlin Stadium ITT – 2 kms – Dermot Gilleran (Raleigh Ireland)
- Stage 1B: Dublin to Monaghan – 128 kms – Dermot Gilleran (Raleigh Ireland) – 2h 58m 45s
- Stage 2: Monaghan to Ballinasloe – 182 kms – Seamus Downey (Raleigh Ireland) – 4h 21m 30s
- Stage 3: Ballinasloe to Nenagh – 157 kms – John Shortt (Galway Rosengrens) – 3h 49m 30s
- Stage 4A: Limerick to Tralee – 41.2 kms – Gearóid Costelloe (Limerick) – 2h 28m 30s
- Stage 4B: Killarney Criterium – 40 kms – Stephen Finnegan (Scotland) – 1h 03m 00s
- Stage 5A: Killarney to Castletownbere – 83 kms – Stephen Finnegan (Scotland) – 1h 59m 00s
- Stage 5B: Adrigole to Healy Pass ITT – 6 kms – Stephen Delaney (Dublin Leyland) – 14m 45s
- Stage 6: Castletownbere to Kenmare – 108 kms – Jimmy McQuillan (Armagh) – 5h 18m 51s
- Stage 7: Mallow to Mallow – 141 kms – John McQuaid (Dublin Skil) – 4h 15m 00s
- Stage 8A: Enniscorthy to Gorey TTT – 30 kms – Dublin Skil – 40m 54s
- Stage 8B: Gorey to Carlow – 132 kms – Jamie McGahan (Dublin Skil) – 3h 24m 00s
- Stage 9: Carlow to Dublin – 140 kms – John McQuaid (Dublin Skil) – 3h 14m 33s
General Classification
- S Delaney (Dublin Leyland) 31h 34m
- J Shortt (Galway Rosengrens) 02m 29s
- R Kimmage (Raleigh Ireland) 05m 47s
- J McQuillan (Antrim) 05m 55s
- B Power (Tipperary Super Stanley) 08m 34s
- M Coll (Scotland) 09m 48s
- B O’Callaghan (Galway Rosengrens) 10m 07s
- B Hodges (Wicklow) 10m 11s
- J Ford (Wales) 10m 12s
- A Hurford (Nottingham) 10m 43s
