Charity in memory of Tipperary hurler to provide free cardiac screenings for young players

The Dillon Quirke Foundation aims to help reduce the number of deaths from SADS

Dillon Quirke was 24 when he collapsed at Semple Stadium in Thurles on August 5, 2022. File photo: INPHO/Bryan Keane

A charity in memory of a Tipperary hurler who died of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) after collapsing during a hurling match is set to provide free cardiac screenings for young sportspeople across the country.

Dillon Quirke was 24 when he collapsed at Semple Stadium in Thurles on August 5, 2022. He was captaining his club Clonoulty-Rossmore, in a championship match against Kilruane McDonaghs.

At the official launch of the Dillon Quirke Foundation was (left to right) Henry Shefflin, Manager of the Galway senior hurling team, Niamh Boland who was diagnosed with two cardiac conditions linked to SADS, Dan Quirke and Niall Quinn, Chair of the Dillon Quirke Foundation. Photo: Barry Cronin

After his death, his parents Dan and Hazel, and sisters Shannon and Kellie, established the Dillon Quirke Foundation which now helps fund cardiac screening for young people involved in sport. The foundation said it aims to help reduce the number of deaths from SADS. 

SADS is a sudden unexpected death of adolescents and adults that is caused by cardiac arrest. The charity says that on average, 100 people die in Ireland every year with SADS. It believes that many of these deaths could be prevented by identifying heart conditions at an early age, before they cause symptoms, through cardiac screening.

At least 10,000 young people aged between 12 and 18 who play high-intensity sports, including soccer, rugby, Gaelic football and hurling will be screened through the charity in sports clubs nationwide, in partnership with Advanced Medical Services.

So far, the foundation said it has already provided screenings to more than 1,200 young competitors as part of its pilot programme launched in recent months.

At the launch of the Dillon Quirke Foundation was: (left to right) Tánaiste Micheal Martin; Mayo footballer Saoirse Lally, who was diagnosed with a heart condition in February this year after a cardiac screening; Niamh Boland who was diagnosed with two cardiac conditions linked to SADS and Dan Quirke. On average, 100 young people die in Ireland each year because of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS). Photo: Barry Cronin

At the launch of the charity, Dillon’s father Dan Quirke said that it did not take them long to discover “how many people in Ireland die from SADS every year” following his son's death.

“Most of these deaths occur in those who participate in high-intensity sports and could be further prevented with better public awareness of the condition and the benefits of cardiac screening from a young age,” Mr Quirke said.

Chair of the charity and former Ireland soccer great Niall Quinn said Ireland should follow in the footsteps of Italy and make cardiac screening mandatory.

At the launch of the Dillon Quirke Foundation was the Boland family from Nenagh, County Tipperary, (back from left): Tom, his partner Criona, Dan Quirke and Niall Quinn, Chair of the Dillon Quirke Foundation; (Front from left): Niamh Boland who was diagnosed with two cardiac conditions linked to SADS, her sister Eleanor, and Karol. Photo: Barry Cronin

“In Italy, all individuals who participate in sports that require regular training and competition must, by law, undergo cardiac screening every year,” Mr Quinn said.

“This has led to an 89% 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.” 

Mr Quinn further called on the Government to provide free cardiac screening for all young people.

Niall Quinn, Chair of the Dillon Quirke Foundation: 'We are calling on the national governing bodies of high-intensity sports to make screening mandatory for young competitors — in the same way that wearing a helmet or other protective gear is mandatory for certain sports.' Photo: Barry Cronin

“And we are calling on the national governing bodies of high-intensity sports to make screening mandatory for young competitors — in the same way that wearing a helmet or other protective gear is mandatory for certain sports," he added. 

Mr Quirke said he hopes that through Dillon's legacy, "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. While we wait for the Government and the national sports bodies to take action, we are filling this gap ourselves — by funding free screening nationwide," he said.