Latest news with #SADS
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘We're very proud and proud of Dillon too, who maybe had something to do with it from upstairs' – Father of Dillon Quirke reacts to Tipperary win
The 24-year-old died from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) in August 2022 when he collapsed while playing a club championship match for Clonoulty/Rossmore against Kilruane MacDonaghs in Thurles. His family established the Dillon Quirke Foundation in his memory to raise awareness of SADS, funding thousands of cardiac screenings for young people involved in sport last year. Speaking to RTÉ's News at One, his father Dan Quirke said there are "mixed emotions" in the aftermath of the Tipperary win, despite being 'delighted that the guys performed so well' in what he described as 'a super exhibition of hurling'. The players visited their late teammate's parents before visiting his grave on Friday evening. "They are lovely young men, we are delighted for what has happened – it's great for Tipperary. Obviously, we've mixed emotions,' Mr Quirke said. "I shed a tear Saturday night myself when I went to bed. It wasn't that Dillon wasn't in Croke Park yesterday, it was more a case of Dillon wasn't with us today and he won't be with us tomorrow. It's been difficult, but it's been great for Tipperary.' Mr Quirke and his wife, Hazel, did not travel to Dublin to watch the match in Croke Park yesterday, having found the semi-final 'very emotional and very difficult'. "We just felt it would be easier to watch it on TV, even though we were shouting our heads off while watching it. We just thought it might be easier and it worked out that way I think.' As he collected the Liam MacCarthy cup yesterday, Tipperary captain Ronan Maher said the team carried the spirit of their teammate 'every step of the way'. "You were in the dressing-room, you were on the field of play, you were in our hearts … and we hope we did you and your family proud today.' ADVERTISEMENT Mr Quirke described the Tipperary team as a 'magnificent bunch of guys' and that his son 'was on their shoulder yesterday'. "We probably felt it too as a family, to watch these guys perform at their best it meant an awful lot to us. We're thrilled as a family. Both Hazel and the two girls and myself, we're very proud and proud of Dillon too, who maybe had something to do with it from upstairs as I call it." The foundation carried out 10,000 screenings for children last year and hope to do the same this year, hoping to raise awareness of SADS in the process. Every year, 100 young people under 40 die of SADS in Ireland due to an undetected heart defect. Last year, the foundation managed to detect cardiac abnormalities in 243 of the 10,128 young people it screened. He said the work is 'saving lives', adding: 'We're delighted to do it, and it would be a super legacy to Dillon in fairness, better than any All-Ireland final for Dillon as a legacy would be saving human lives, and it's been magnificent for us, the foundation. 'Even though at the minute the whole thing is very emotional, but look, we're making a difference for other parents and we're just doing the best we can.'
Extra.ie
a day ago
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Cork fan's premature ink now a painful reminder
A Cork man 'took the chance' last week in getting an ink forecasting Cork to win the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, but will have to change a digit or two following their 15 point loss to Tipperary. The Rebel county were red hot favourites entering Croke Park on Sunday, and with a six-point lead at half-time it looked all but a certainty they would lift the Liam McCarthy cup for the first time in 20 years. Tipperary dominated the second half of the match, with the final score a resounding 3-27 to Tipp versus Cork's 1-18 — a winning margin of 15 points. Comedian Pat Shortt with Cork fan Michael John Murphy. Pic: Pat Shortt/X Among the uber confident Cork supporters was Michael John who even got an ink to commemorate a week before the final. The tattoo, which is placed on the GAA fans arm, reads: 'Cork All Ireland Senior Hurling Champions 2025.' Skint Tattoo Studio took to Facebook to share pictures of the ink, which was done by business owner Darragh Murphy. 'Confidence is key, the 2025 is an easy fix to 2026 for next year anyway incase anything goes pear shaped Sunday,' the tattoo studio wrote alongside the post, 'But I doubt it.' Unfortunately, things did in fact go pear-shaped for the Rebel County, and the Liam McCarthy is heading to Tipperary this year. The tattoo studio, based in Passage West, followed up on Sunday evening noting that the 'better team won' and predicting that 'Tipperary will be hard to stop in the future years.' They added that they will be doing a GAA themed flash tattoo fundraiser before September with all proceeds raised going to the Dillon Quirke Foundation. The foundation was set up in memory of an up and coming Tipperary hurler, Dillon Quirke, who passed away after collapsing during a game in Semple Stadium in 2022. Dillon died of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS), which takes the lives of 100 young people in Ireland annually. The foundation, set up by Dillon's parents and sisters, to raise awareness and save lives by screening every GAA player both male and female from the age of 12 years old.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Liam Cahill 'never flinched' with Dillon Quirke's name on his chest
Liam Cahill said he "never flinched" on the sideline today because he had Dillon Quirke's name on his chest. The tragic Tipperary star was to the forefront of all players' and supporters' minds in the aftermath of the Premier County's amazing All-Ireland final victory over Cork. Quirke died suddenly while playing a club match for Clonoulty/Rossmore against Kilruane MacDonaghs in Thurles in October 2022. Since his death a foundation has been set up in his name to raise awareness around Sudden Death Syndrome (SADS) and source funding for the cardiac screening of young people across the country involved in sport. Tipperary captain Ronan Maher, in his speech, singled out "one player who's no longer with us, but is so much a part of what we are, Dillon Quirke. "We carried your spirit with us every step of the way. You were in the dressing room, you were on the field of play, you were in our hearts… and we hope we did you and your family proud today." Cahill, who managed Quirke to minor and Under-21 All-Irelands, was only in the Tipp senior job a matter of weeks when Quirke died, and he recalled the impact the death had on himself and the squad. "Dillon is with us every day. When we started out in this journey in 2023 we were all hit with that devastating tragedy of what happened to Dillon. "I was 50 yards from it the day it happened in Semple Stadium and I'll never forget it. It had a huge effect on our dressing room. "It had a huge effect. And it was a really difficult year, 2023 and 2024, around everybody trying to cope with it in their own way," said Cahill, who revealed he got a text from Quirke's father on his way to Croke Park. "I got a text from Dan, his dad, coming up the road to wish me luck. And I just said that Dillon will be on all our shoulders today regardless what happens in the result. "He should be with us today but the legacy he's leaving and the work that he's doing to save lives across Ireland at the moment through his name and the foundation is just incredible. "And today I never flinched at any stage on the line once he was across my chest, I knew that we would be battling right to the end. I'm just so proud to have had an input into his life for the for the short number of years he was with us." Wing-back Craig Morgan also remembered Quirke in the aftermath of Tipp's win. "We live, breathe hurling in Tipperary, we can't wait to bring it home to Tipperary and celebrate with everyone. And to remember Dillon Quirke is important too. It's been a tough week for the people of Clonoulty/Rossmore and Dillon's family. We're going to remember him with these celebrations."
Irish Independent
5 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 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.'
