'A truly inspiring gent': Tributes to Limerick's marathon man Phonsie Clifford

WARM TRIBUTES have been paid following the passing of Limerick's marathon man Phonsie Clifford.

Phonsie, who passed away aged 92, was running marathons well into his late 80s, including the Great Limerick Run, the 2023 staging of which takes place this Sunday.

A prolific athlete, the Garryowen man has also triumphed six times in the over 80s and over 85s section of the Dublin City Marathon posting times which many younger athletes would be proud of.

Cross-channel, Phonsie - the father of well-known local fitness trainer Richie 'Mr Motivator' Clifford - also won the over-85s section of the Great North Run at Newcastle in England's north-east.

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More than 600 people aged over 80 took part, and Phonsie led the group.

Over the years, he has raised tens of thousands of euro for cancer services in Britain and Ireland, predominantly for Milford Care Centre in Castletroy which benefitted to the tune of €70,000 from his efforts.

In a tribute posted to www.rip.ie, management and staff at the facility wrote: "We were deeply saddened to hear of his passing. He was a fantastic supporter of Milford and a truly inspirational person. He will be greatly missed. May his gentle soul rest in peace."

During the Covid-19 pandemic, at the age of 90, he ran from his home in Well Park, Garryowen, to the Radisson Blu Hotel to receive his initial vaccination.

Kate O'Brien, director of nursing at Millbrae Lodge in Newport, where he died peacefully on Thursday said: "He was a truly inspiring gent and achieved so much with his running and marathons."

Trish Shanahan from Raheen recalled the "amazing father-son relationship" that Phonsie and Richie shared.

"Each so proud of one another's many spectacular running achievements. Both humble men, always smiling, always encouraging. I'm sure the thousands running the Great Limerick Run this Sunday will say - May Phonsie's spirited soul rest in peace," she wrote.

Despite his prowess on the running track, it was only in his retirement that Phonsie took up marathons, his last being the 2019 Dublin Marathon aged 89.

During his career, he worked in an abattoir.

Phonsie worked in an abattoir and only took up running in his sixties after he retired, but once he started, he never stopped running several marathons.

His last marathon was the Dublin Marathon at the age of 89 in 2019.

Husband of the late Kathleen, Phonsie is survived by his children Denis, Philip, Richard, Dolores Woodland and Jimmy, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, daughters-in-law Carmel, Patricia, Sarah and Sarah, nephews, nieces, other relatives, friends and in particular those in the athletics circle.

He will repose at Cross's Funeral Home, Gerald Griffin Street, on Monday, May 1, from 2.00pm to 4.00pm and will be laid to rest in Mount St. Oliver Cemetery on Tuesday, May 2 following a funeral Mass at St. John's Cathedral at 11am.

May he rest in eternal peace.