Latest news with #DanQuirke
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Kerry launch of Dillon Quirke Foundation heart screenings
Kerryman Killarney was chosen as the important venue this week by The Dillon Quirke Foundation when it launched its first cardiac screening initiative with athletes from Cycling Ireland. Over the course of two days in Killarney, the Foundation – founded by the family of the young Tipperary hurler who collapsed and died during a match in 2022 – screened young cycling athletes for potential cardiac abnormalities from the Munster. Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) takes 100 young lives in Ireland every year – deaths which could be prevented by early identification of heart conditions via cardiac screening. Dan Quirke, father of Dillon and founder of the Foundation, stated the organisation is proud to be in Killarney to kick off cardiac screenings for Cycling Ireland athletes. The screening is part of the Foundation's wider campaign to raise awareness of SADS and to increase the number of people getting themselves screened in Ireland. 'Since starting the Foundation, we've seen remarkable progress in the level of cardiac screening across GAA, soccer, rugby, boxing and performing arts and sports clubs nationwide,' said Dan. 'We are committed to broadening our reach and expertise across more clubs and sporting bodies and expanding into the cycling community marks a crucial step in raising awareness of the prevalence of SADS and the serious heart conditions that often go undetected,' he added. 'It's vitally important for young people, regardless of their sporting and fitness abilities, to understand their heart health and screening is a simple, quick and painless way to protect yourself and your loved ones,' Dan said. In 2024, the Dillon Quirke Foundation caught cardiac abnormalities in 243 of the 10,128 young people it screened. These individuals were advised to undergo follow-up cardiology tests post-screening which can include echocardiograms, cardiac electrophysiologist reviews, cardiology reviews and stress tests. The effective screenings allow for early detection of potentially life-threatening conditions, which has led to timely interventions, including surgeries, which may have saved lives. Stephen Griffin, Munster Regional Development Officer for Cycling Ireland, said cardiac screening is a quick and easy way to keep young cyclists safe, and can cost less than the price of a new helmet. 'Initiatives like this play an important role in raising awareness about the value of early cardiac screening in helping to prevent Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. We support all young athletes taking proactive steps in monitoring their heart health and we are encouraged by the work The Dillon Quirke Foundation does,' Stephen said.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Dillon Quirke in the minds of Tipp before final
When the final whistle blew in Croke Park a fortnight ago, Dan and Hazel Quirke 'turned to each other and cried' . 'How could they not,' writes Malachy Clerkin. 'Tipperary had made it to an All-Ireland final and it was only natural that their first thought was for their son Dillon,' the Tipperary hurler who died from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome three years ago. Malachy talks to Dan about Dillon and the foundation he and Hazel set up in his honour. Dillon won't be far from the Tipp players' thoughts on Sunday when they take on Cork in the final, Seán Moran reflecting on a championship season that has seen Liam Cahill's team bounce back in style having reached rock bottom 14 months ago when Cork beat them by 18 points. Conor Lehane has bounced back too, the Cork man having previously been dropped from the panel while also battling a string of injuries. Stephen Barry hears from him ahead of his first appearance in an All Ireland final in 12 years. Darragh Ó Sé, meanwhile, looks back at the football semi-finals and has no doubt that the two best teams in the country won through , Kerry and Donegal having 'sprinted away from the pack over the past couple of weeks'. Paul O'Brien analyses the two games , Tyrone and Meath's failure to take their chances resulting in Kerry and Donegal being 'treated to armchair victories'. READ MORE Down in Australia, the Lions are enduring their fair share of injury woes in the build-up to Saturday's first test, Gerry Thornley updating us on the walking wounded . He takes a stab at predicting Andy Farrell's starting XV, Jack Conan among his picks. ' This has been an incredible joy and the best few weeks of my career ,' the Leinster man tells him. Gordon D'Arcy looks at both coaches' options too, reckoning the Lions have yet to show their best on a tour that has been largely 'meh' to date . And Robert Kitson picks out the five areas where the series will be won and lost , the chief challenge for Andy Farrell and Joe Schmidt getting 'their key chess pieces in the correct places'. In golf, Philip Reid continues his build-up to the Open Championship in Portrush, few enjoying the week as much as Tom McKibbin who is back on home soil . And Johnny Watterson heard from Rory McIlroy's best buddy Bryson DeChambeau who said recently that he'd love nothing more than to beat McIlroy, 'especially in front of his own crowd'. Salty. The Tour de France resumes today after Tuesday's rest day, and a certain Ben Healy will be donning the yellow jersey . He is, Shane Stokes discovered, on cloud nine. 'I just want to honour the jersey the best I possibly can do,' he said. 'I know what I'm up against, but I'll give it my all.' In football, Gavin Cummiskey previews the return leg of Shelbourne and Linfield's Champions League qualifier at Windsor Park this evening, Shels winning the first leg 1-0 at Tolka Park last week. A lucrative game it is too, the winners picking up €750,000 for advancing to the second qualifying round. Alas, it's not on TV. TV Watch : The Tour de France gets going again today after Tuesday's breather, TG4 and TNT Sports 1 bringing live coverage of stage 11 from noon. And at 8pm this evening, Norway play Italy in the quarter-finals of Euro 2025 (RTÉ 2, BBC 1 and UTV).
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Dan Quirke: ‘The two of us were in tears. Obviously we'd have loved Dillon to be there'
After the final whistle went a fortnight ago in Croke Park, Dan and Hazel Quirke turned to each other and cried. How could they not? Tipperary had made it to an All-Ireland final and it was only natural that their first thought was for their son Dillon. These were his team-mates, this was his team. If he was alive, he'd be there among them, getting ready for the best fortnight a hurler can have. 'The two of us were in tears, to be honest,' says Dan. 'Because obviously we'd have loved Dillon to be there. It was great for Tipp to win. And all those young guys in the team are great buddies. 'Life is full of rollercoasters, as we all know. Hazel and myself found the day particularly difficult. Because we were in Croke Park and Tipp were going well. I'd spoken to Craig Morgan the previous week and Craig has been wearing number five now, which Dillon had worn. It was beautiful to see that because he's a lovely young fella.' The tragic death of Dillon Quirke leaves his people frozen in time — Irish Times Sport (@IrishTimesSport) In a few weeks, it will be their boy's third anniversary. Dillon Quirke collapsed on the pitch in Semple Stadium during a club match for Clonoulty in August 2022, taken from them by Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. He was 24 years old . READ MORE His death rooted the country to the spot. He was a young hurler, making his way. The 2022 championship had been a washout for Tipp but Dillon had played the most minutes of anyone in the team that season and was seen as one of the few bright spots in a bad year. And then he was gone. 'The pain is different as you go along,' his father says. 'Maybe it doesn't come around as often. But then when you go to matches like that semi-final, Dillon comes back into it. 'I had a beautiful relationship with Dillon because we travelled the world together, watching rugby and soccer and GAA. I was in New Zealand in 2017 with the Lions for three weeks with Dillon, which was amazing. We were big Munster supporters and Ireland supporters and Man United supporters. We travelled Europe and we travelled the world and I'm so grateful to have spent beautiful times with him. I can honestly say there was never a bad word spoken between the two of us. We were like brothers. 'But you ask me how I am – I'm up and down. Generally I'm not too bad. I think we're coping quite well. Hazel and myself have a great relationship. We're very strong and we help each other. So I think all in all, we're doing as good as we possibly can.' A big part of that is the Dillon Quirke Foundation , which they set up in the numb, bewildered months after his death. They sold their delicatessen business – it didn't feel the same without Dillon – and instead put their time and energy into the foundation. They've raised €2m over the past 2½ years, with the long-term goal of providing heart screening for anyone in Ireland playing sport. Clonoulty-Rossmore GAA club in Tipperary 'We're getting a lot of good stories from the foundation,' Dan says. 'I know that we've saved lives in the last 2½ years. Dillon would love me to be doing that. I know he would and I feel he's with me all the time. And to be honest, he's probably pushing me. I feel he's pushing me on to make this a success. That's probably a lot of it really, to be honest. 'The thing about Sads is we all know someone. You know someone that has passed away from Sads. Nearly everybody has. What they don't realise is that something can be done about it. If you're screened, we can save 90 per cent of the issues. But people are just unaware. So that's why we're trying to raise awareness as well as screen. 'They started this 20 years ago in Italy and they've brought down the Sads death rate by nearly 90 per cent. So we do know that screening has worked. We screened 10,000 last year, we've seen another 10,000 this year. And by the end of our five-year term we will have 50,000 kids screened. Now there's about 300,000 teenagers playing sport in Ireland. So we need to get at that. 'I've got calls from parents in tears on the phone, thanking us for the foundation and being screened. The first one I got was less than 12 months ago. I was speechless. What can you say? The lady rang me and said: 'Listen, without your foundation, without being screened, he wouldn't be with us.' It's an amazing thing.' This is his life now. He throws himself into the foundation, driven by his family's loss, searching for something good out of it all. All around him, life goes on and sport goes on. He and Hazel are in Portrush this week along with former Tipp legend Declan Ryan and his wife, taking in the golf and letting the hours slip by until Sunday. They'll go to the final and hope and wish and dream like every other Tipperary supporter. But the day will hit different with them too. No point pretending otherwise. 'There's a lovely connection there, still, within the Tipperary set-up. I know they carry a picture of Dillon with them when they go to the matches. It would be amazing if we can do it. When you're in a final, you want to win and I think we've a great chance. It's going to be difficult. But please God we'll enjoy the match and won't feel too emotional.'
Irish Independent
10-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
‘It's vitally important' – Dillon Quirke Foundation launches cardiac screening for young cyclists in bid to prevent SADS
Screenings by the charity last year detected cardiac abnormalities in 243 of 10,128 athletes A cardiac screening initiative has been launched today in Killarney, Co Kerry, to assess the heart health of young athletes in a bid to prevent Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS). Every year, 100 young people under 40 die of SADS in Ireland due to an undetected heart defect. The Dillon Quirke Foundation – set up in honour of the 24-year-old Tipperary hurler who collapsed and died during a match in 2022 – is launching the initiative which will screen 90 of Munster's 168 young cyclists aged between 14 and 18 for cardiac abnormalities. 'Since starting the Foundation, we've seen remarkable progress in the level of cardiac screening across GAA, soccer, rugby, boxing and performing arts and sports clubs nationwide,' said Dan Quirke, father of the late Dillon. 'We are committed to broadening our reach and expertise across more clubs and sporting bodies and expanding into the cycling community marks a crucial step in raising awareness of the prevalence of SADS and the serious heart conditions that often go undetected. 'It's vitally important for young people, regardless of their sporting and fitness abilities, to understand their heart health and screening is a simple, quick and painless way to protect yourself and your loved ones.' Last year, the Foundation managed to detect cardiac abnormalities in 243 of the 10,128 young people it screened. The individuals in question were advised to undergo follow-up cardiology tests including echocardiograms, cardiac electrophysiologist reviews, cardiology reviews and stress tests. Stephen Griffin, Munster Regional Development Officer for Cycling Ireland, said: 'At Cycling Ireland, we are dedicated to promoting and enhancing the sport of cycling by supporting the health and wellbeing of all our members, especially our junior and youth athletes. Describing the process as 'a quick and easy' method that 'can cost less than the price of a new helmet', Griffin continued: 'Initiatives like this play an important role in raising awareness about the value of early cardiac screening in helping to prevent Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. "We support all young athletes taking proactive steps in monitoring their heart health and we are encouraged by the work The Dillon Quirke Foundation does.'
