Mayo footballer Saoirse Lally attends launch of new charity set up in memory of Tipperary hurler Dillon Quirke

MAYO footballer Saoirse Lally has shared her experience of being diagnosed with a cardiac condition at the launch of a charity which aims to promote cardiac screening in young people.

The Dillon Quirke Foundation was set up by the family of the late Tipperary hurler Dillon Quirke, who passed away at the age of 24.

Quirke collapsed and died after he suffered a cardiac arrest during a hurling match in Semple Stadium in August 2022.

Lally, a physiotherapy student from Westport, underwent cardiac screening in recent weeks.

She was subsequently diagnosed and treated for a cardiac condition that is linked to SADS (Sudden Adult Death Syndrome).

The Louisburgh native spoke about the process of the screening and returning to training with the Mayo panel, only a few short weeks after being diagnosed, as well as the importance of cardiac screening for young people.

Former Mayo footballer and current Gaelic Players’ Association CEO, Tom Parsons, also attended the launch of the Dillon Quirke Foundation.

The foundation is a registered charity aiming to reduce the number of young people in Ireland dying from SADS.

An estimated 100 young people die in Ireland because of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.

Through a partnership with Advanced Medical Services (AMS), a provider of onsite medical services, the Dillon Quirke Foundation plans to screen at least 10,000 young people aged 12 to 18 this year, with an initial focus on those who play GAA, soccer and rugby.

It has already provided screenings to more than 1,200 young competitors as part of a pilot programme in recent months and expects to have screened over 1,300 by the end of this month.

The foundation has called for the government to provide to become mandatory and Government-funded.

“After Dillon’s death, it didn’t take us long to discover how many young people in Ireland die from SADS every year. Most of these deaths occur in those who participate in high intensity sports and could be prevented with better public awareness of the condition and the benefits of cardiac screening from a young age,” said Dan Quirke, Dillon’s father.

“We have set up the Foundation in Dillon’s memory to create more understanding nationally of how cardiac screening can help save lives, and to provide free screening opportunities for young people.”

Niall Quinn, Chairman of the Dillon Quirke foundation and a Former Republic of Ireland footballer, noted that all individuals who participate in sports that require regular training and competition must undergo cardiac screening.

“This has led to an 89 percent reduction in deaths from SADS since the law was introduced in 1982. Just imagine: if we established a similar system to Italy, we could save 89 lives every year,” said Quinn.

“Ultimately, we hope that Dillon’s legacy will be that every young person in this country will have access to Government-funded screening for their heart, and that cardiac screening becomes a requirement for all underage players. This is the ambition of the Foundation over a five-year period.”

For further information, visit dillonquirkefoundation.com.