August 2023 marked the first anniversary of the passing of Dillon. A year that has seen many changes including the setting up of the Dillon Quirke Foundation and the beginnings of the cardiac screening programme but also a year that we spent without Dillon.
We couldn’t think of a more fitting way to remember Dillon than to have the GAA grounds where he first picked up a hurl renamed in his honour. A special ceremony to rename the pitch was held in advance of his anniversary mass and the pitch is now officially called “the Dillon Quirke GAA Grounds”. This was a really special way to recognise the impact Dillon had on his local community and sport in Clonoulty-Rossmore. It was also an honour to have GAA President Larry McCarthy officially open the club grounds unveiling a plaque in Dillon’s memory.
Dillon’s family – his parents, Dan and Hazel and his sisters, Shannon and Kellie, are so grateful for the support received over the last year. Although it has been a difficult year, the setting up of the Dillon Quirke Foundation has given us a very meaningful way to honour Dillon’s legacy.
The support for the Foundation over the last year has been amazing. There have been a huge number of fundraisers, some we haven’t even heard about yet, from music festivals to golf tournaments and everything in between. The sole intention of creating the Foundation in Dillon’s name is to save lives and, in turn, honour his legacy and life.
Dillon will have a legacy. And we would hope his legacy would be that every young sports athlete, male and female in this country, will have mandatory screening for their heart.
Comments