Claremorris GAA to host major Dillon Quirke Foundation Day

CLAREMORRIS GAA and Claremorris South Responder Group have teamed up with the Dillon Quirke Foundation and AMS to cardiac screen 182 young people free of charge thanks to the Dillon Quirke Foundation.

Dillon (24) was a young Tipperary man who had an intense passion for hurling. He had come through the club ranks and featured with the Tipperary minors for two seasons. On August 5, 2022, while playing a Tipperary SHC match for his club Clonoulty–Rossmore against Kilruane MacDonaghs at Semple Stadium, he collapsed and died a short time later.

Dillon was a hugely popular young man whose leadership qualities were widely known even at that young age. The Dillon Quirke Foundation was formed to raise awareness of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) and to fund widespread cardiac screening for young people (12-18) involved in sport.

The cardiac screening in Claremorris will take place at the GAA Clubhouse on Thursday, August 8, starting at 1pm and the organisers are inviting the community far and wide to attend the appreciation day to the Dillon Quirke Foundation.

Dan Quirke, father of Dillon, will be in Claremorris with a few special guests, including Mayo player Saoirse Lally (recently diagnosed with cardiac issue through the same screening) and John McShane (Community Engagement Officer from the National Ambulance Service).

Donna Cassidy, community first responder from Claremorris South Responder Group, said it is hugely important that every child and young person and adult is cardiac screened within any sporting club.

“This is a massive achievement for The Dillon Quirke Foundation to have such an important service to each GAA club in Ireland. If sudden deaths can be prevented, the Government needs to make cardiac screening mandatory in every sports club in Ireland.

“We are hoping to encourage other sports clubs to follow suit and assist with the cardiac screening of all the children in Ireland. In Italy it is compulsory for children that play sport to be cardiac screened for SADS and there is a proven rate of 89 percent reduction in SADS in Italy according to the national register. We are hoping this can be the case for Ireland too.

“Up to 100 young people die each year in Ireland from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. One in 300 people may have a cardiac abnormality. The national register recently reported that the incidence of SADS is higher in Ireland than many other European countries. We extend a massive thanks to The Dillon Quirke Foundation and AMS in helping us achieve this mammoth task of cardiac screening,” said Donna.