INTERVIEW: “It was a very challenging time for everyone close to Dillon,” - Conor Stakelum

Post-Covid has been very different from how life has functioned before the biggest event in recent years.

That period affected people all over the world in so many different ways, but one thing that feels universal is how quickly the days, weeks, and months are moving in in its wake in the last few years.

The events of August 5th, 2022 seem to be still very fresh in the consciousness of all Tipperary GAA folk when Tipperary and Clonoulty Rossmore man Dillon Quirke passed away suddenly in FBD Semple Stadium, and none more so than his teammate and long-time friend Conor Stakelum who spoke to me in the lead up to this Sunday’ second Dillon Quirke Foundation Charity Match.

Stakelum soldiered with Dillon through his underage days hurling with Tipperary and that relationship continued to the senior level where the pair represented Tipperary during the 2022 championship campaign, but the Thurles Sarsfields man struggled to comprehend how much time has passed since then.

“It’s actually mad when you think about it. It doesn’t seem like that long ago,” Stakelum said

“It feels like it was only yesterday that he was getting ready for a new campaign under Liam (Cahill) and he was really looking forward to that.

“I don’t know where the time goes, a lot has happened between now and then but he’s always been foremost in our thoughts, in anything we do inside. Time might be passing by but we feel he is still in there with us.

Dillon’s loss was keenly felt and his absence continues to leave a void for all those who knew him and loved him, but the creation of the Dillon Quirke Foundation was something that all those who knew Dillon best could sink their teeth into and create some good out of an unimaginable situation.

Stakelum and his family along with the support of his club contributed their came together to help raise awareness for the fledgling charity in late 2022 and Stakelum was at pains to highlight the great work Dillon’s family has done since then and felt that he had to contribute as much as he could to the cause.

“Dillon’s family have been incredible in how they have gone about setting up the foundation. I think they should be immensely proud of what they have done and the strides they have taken,” he lauded.

“I suppose from our side, when the Jersey4Life was set up that was just to help the Foundation in some way we could as a club. We could see all the work that they were doing and we were looking at some other clubs getting involved and we just wanted to do our part.

“We felt that if everybody could row in in whatever way possible to help that would be a huge plus. It’s important that as many people as possible can get behind it and support it in some way, big or small.”

Dillon and Conor were always close coming up through the age grades of various Tipperary teams which culminated in their U21 All-Ireland win back in 2018 where that iconic picture of the duo celebrating the win was taken. Conor spoke about the weeks after the passing of his good friend and how he managed to cope without him in the Tipp setup heading into 2023.

“It was a very challenging time for everyone close to Dillon,” Stakelum recalled.

“He was so popular in so many different groups and it affected everybody in different ways but I think the best thing for us (Tipperary hurlers) was to get back on the pitch.

“The Jersey4Life and the contributions to the Foundation were great but I think the best way we felt we could connect back together and honour Dillon on the pitch.

“We tried to work as hard as we could after that, to try and I suppose do what he would have wanted us to do, which was to leave it all out there.

“Going back into the Tipp setup so soon after what had happened was big for us and support from all the players and everyone coming together was huge.

“There’s still a lot of work left to do on the pitch to live up to Dillon’s memory looking ahead,” he added.
And it wasn’t just Dillon’s skills and contribution on the field that was missed in Stakelum's view, as he spoke about the character and humour that was missing in the dressing room and how the atmosphere was that bit “quieter”.

“The dressing room was definitely a little quieter!” he quipped.

“He would have always been roaring and laughing and cracking jokes and just being loud inside. I would have been getting the brunt of it too to be fair along with the likes of Craig Morgan. A few of the other lads would have got off lightly!” he chuckled.

“I suppose looking back on it it felt different, definitely. As I said it was a bit quieter but I think it was made a bit easier because we were all in the same boat together. He soldiered with a lot of us and everyone was in the same situation and that certainly helped.

“But definitely, the first few training sessions and the first few matches it was there in your head but you have to harbour that and, as a group, we tried to deal with it head on and try and channel it more positively.

“It was a tough few weeks going back inside without him there. It’s not something you’ll ever get over but you just learn to deal with it,” he said.

Any interview with family, friends, teammates, or anyone who would have come across Dillon would always highlight the gentleman he was along with his light-hearted but humble nature, and I asked Conor what he thinks Dillon would make of the big furore since he passed away.

“I think he’d absolutely love it!”, Stakelum laughed.

“Ah, in fairness, he was so grounded and down to earth and if anything, I think he’d be immensely proud to see how well his family has turned what happened into such a positive. To see the impact that he is going to have on so many people playing sports in Ireland is incredible.

This coming Sunday, All-Ireland champions Limerick will be the team to support the second iteration of this charity match, with a big crowd expected after the success of last year’s game against Kilkenny.

Limerick have been hugely supportive of the initiative and Tipperary GAA have acknowledged their generosity in making themselves available for the game which is sure to draw great intrigue from the public in general.

Speaking about the game itself, Stakelum went out of his way to heap praise on the Limerick hurlers and highlighted their generosity in the weeks and months after Dillon’s passing and he believes that the game itself will be well worth the admission fee with the Tipperary hurlers eager to get on the pitch to test themselves against the five-in-a-row seeking champions.

“Yeah for sure. And even going back to the Jersey4Life fundraiser, the amount of Limerick players that put their hand up and donated jerseys was unbelievable it has to be said.

“They are a really humble group of players and it just goes to show again here, that they’re coming in to play the Foundation game considering the busy schedule and workload every team has at the moment. It speaks volumes about them,” he highlighted.

“A lot of the lads are looking forward to playing the All-Ireland champions again and in fairness, there is no such thing as a second-string Limerick outfit to be fair because when they come, they come fully loaded and it’s always a great spectacle when we play them.

“There’s a great buzz around our camp and everyone is looking forward to the occasion.

“The league is only around the corner and it represents a good opportunity for players to stake their claim, and it’s a great chance for supporters to come out and support us and support the Foundation at the same time” he finished.

DILLON QUIRKE FOUNDATION

The aim of the charity is to carry out cardiac screening on every GAA player in the country, both male and female, from the age of 12 upwards and so far, 130 children and young people have been screened.

Tipperary GAA are urging all supporters who can contribute or support this fundraiser to please do so, big or small.

Tickets for the game are now available to purchase from the ticket section of the Tipperary GAA website at a cost of €20

Tipperary GAA | Future Ticketing while tap-and-go card payments will also be accepted at the venue on the day. All under 16’s will have free admission to the game or donations can be made to The Dillon Quirke Foundation can be made at www.dillonquirkefoundation.com.

The game will also be broadcast live by Tipperary GAA’s official streaming partner Clubber with all monies raised being donated to the foundation. Supporters can watch the game by going to https://www.clubber.ie.