Huge turnout of stars to launch the Dillon Quirke Foundation Fundraising Drive

The Dillon Quirke Foundation fundraising drive was launched in Clonoulty village at the newly named Dillon Quirke GAA Grounds. Many GAA personalities were on hand at the launch to remember Dillon and support the fundraiser in any way possible. Dillon’s parents Hazel and Dan were there, as well as club chairperson Andrew Fryday, hurling legend Declan Ryan, Circet chief financial officer Eamonn O’Kennedy and Challenge organising chairman Liam Daniels.

Numerous events have taken place to raise funds for the foundation. The main aim of the foundation is that every GAA player over the age of 12 is cardiac screened. “The sole intention of creating The Foundation in Dillon’s name is to save lives,” said Dillon’s father Dan. “SADS takes 100 young lives every year. €1 million will screen 15,000 children and young adults. To put it simply, we don’t want parents to go through what Hazel and I have experienced. Screening has proven to work. The clubs we are asking to contribute to The Foundation will benefit from the programmes we want to initiate countrywide. We can't think of a better legacy for Dillon.”

It is a noble cause and one that is to be admired says three time All-Ireland hurling winner Declan Ryan who was also Clonoulty Rossmore manager the evening Dillon passed away in Thurles :

“When you have a hundred young people dying every year of sudden death syndrome in our country, I think Dan and Hazel have been brilliant in putting all their energy into the Dillon Quirke Foundation. Hopefully a lot of people benefit from it. Imagine just to save one or two young people from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome - it would be an incredible achievement.” he told Tipperary Live. 

Dillon passed away from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) in FBD Semple Stadium down by the Town End. The Clonoulty captain was after setting up a goal and was, as per usual, hurling up a storm. Kilruane MacDonaghs were the opponents that evening and the north Tipp club eventually went on to win the county final in what was an emotional victory.

 Dillon Quirke could hurl in the backs or forwards. He had made his name with Tipperary and was All-Ireland medalist at minor and U21 level. He won a Dan Breen cup medal with his club as an emerging star in 2018 and also was to the fore whilst winning west Tipperary titles over the years. 

Since the challenge game between Tipperary and Kilkenny in Thurles last February, the Foundation has grown. Fundraisers have taken place in schools, clubs, colleges and workplaces across Tipperary and nationwide. Speaking at the launch in Clonoulty, Declan Ryan said this latest fundraiser is a big one:

“In our club we have been involved in the GAA golf challenge for a good number of years now.  We never won it. We won a number of Munster finals but basically Liam Daniels and his team have run it for years and supported different charities around the country and it is happening in Killarney this year in October. They have kindly offered us a number of slots and a number of teams.”

Many big names in the GAA world showed up to the launch including senior hurling managers such as John Kiely (Limerick), Liam Cahill (Tipperary), Davy Fitzgerald (Waterford), Darragh Egan (Wexford), Davy Fitzgerald (Waterford), Darren Gleeson (Antrim), Pat Ryan (Cork), Stephen Molumphy (Kerry) and Henry Shefflin (Galway). Challenge patrons Eddie Keher and Seán Kelly were there as well as Craig Morgan and other Tipperary senior hurlers.

The 22nd Circet All-Ireland Golf Challenge will be held at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club this October. All proceeds raised go to charitable causes and it is the main golf competition for GAA members in which they represent their clubs on the course.

To contribute to The Dillon Quirke Foundation, visit the home page and follow the links: https://www.dillonquirkefoundation.com/ To register your company’s interest in playing in this year’s Challenge, email info@dillonquirkefoundation.com