Dillon Quirke will be fondly remembered in Clonoulty and Tipperary on his first anniversary

This Saturday, August 5, will be a day tinged with sadness and remembrance in the west Tipperary village of Clonoulty, when the local GAA club’s grounds will be officially renamed in memory of Dillon Quirke, the 24-year-old Clonoulty/Rossmore and Tipperary hurler.

The ceremony will be held a year to the day since Dillon collapsed and died at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles while playing for his club against Kilruane MacDonaghs in the County Senior Hurling Championship.

Dillon’s untimely passing prompted an outpouring of shock and sympathy throughout the country, and especially within the GAA family, a fact reflected by the fact that the Association’s President, Larry McCarthy, will attend Saturday’s ceremony.

He will join Dillon’s family, friends, Clonoulty/Rossmore club members and many others in remembering a young man who has been described by Andrew Fryday, his uncle and the club chairman, as “a lovable rogue, a lovely young fellow and an adorable young man”.

An open invitation is extended to all to attend the event, which will begin at 5pm.

As well as the official renaming of the club grounds, a plaque will be unveiled at the clubhouse, alongside the mural of Dillon Quirke.

The attendance will be addressed by GAA President Larry McCarthy, Andrew Fryday and Liam Cahill, the Tipperary senior hurling manager.

An anniversary Mass will be celebrated immediately afterwards in the GAA grounds.

The renaming of the club grounds is “a lovely tribute” to his nephew, says Andrew Fryday.

He said the extended Quirke and Fryday families were very happy that the club’s players and members wanted to do this to remember Dillon and honour his memory.

A year on, Andrew says that Dillon is “a huge loss”. “His passing has left a big hole in our family and our club.

“It’s not a nice place to be but we have to deal with it,” he says.

Andrew described Dillon as “a leader in all aspects on and off the field”.

Outside of the GAA, the very harsh reality of what happened was being dealt with by his family, especially by his parents Hazel and Dan and sisters Shannon and Kellie, he stated.

The Dillon Quirke Foundation, which was set up in the wake of Dillon’s passing, has so far raised just over €800,000.

Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) is estimated to be responsible for the deaths of 100 young people in Ireland every year. The Foundation’s aim is to raise awareness of SADS and save lives by screening every GAA player, both male and female, from the age of 12 upwards.

Andrew Fryday says it’s hoped to begin this screening process next month.

“We’re honoured to have such a foundation set up in Dillon’s name, and the support we’ve received from all over the country has been outstanding”.

The fund will be further boosted by a corporate golf event that will be held in Killarney on October 19/20. This is being managed by Liam Daniels of the All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge.

As preparations continue for Saturday’s ceremony in Clonoulty, Andrew Fryday has extended his gratitude and that of Dillon’s family and the club for all the support they’ve received in the past year.

“It’s a great comfort to see what support we have in our own parish, in the neighbouring parishes and all around the country,” he says.

“In the GAA, we’re all one big family and we support each other when things are down”.