Kilmacud Crokes Hurling - Proud to Play Our Part for the Dillon Quirke Foundation
Sometimes a club gets the chance to do something special — and we're grateful to have had that opportunity through our support of the Dillon Quirke Foundation.
The Dillon Quirke Foundation was established in memory of the talented Tipperary hurler Dillon Quirke, who tragically passed away suddenly during a club match in August 2022 at just 24 years of age. Dillon was found to have had an undetected heart condition, and his passing sent shockwaves through the GAA community across Ireland. In his memory, the Foundation was set up to fund and promote cardiac screening for young GAA players and athletes, with the goal of detecting undiagnosed heart conditions before they claim more young lives. To date, the Foundation has screened thousands of young people across Ireland, doing vital and potentially life-saving work in communities everywhere.
Our fundraising effort kicked off when the club organised a raffle of two coveted 2025 All-Ireland Hurling Final tickets, generating enormous excitement among members and supporters alike. The response was wonderful, raising over €4,000 for the Foundation — a reflection of the generosity that runs through this club. It was Kilmacud Crokes’ own U9 mentor Gerald Byrne who landed the lucky tickets, a very well-deserved win for one of the club's dedicated volunteers!
The fundraising journey reached a fitting crescendo at Kilmacud Crokes’ recent Punchestown Race Day, where Dillon's parents, Hazel and Dan Quirke, joined club members and supporters for a memorable afternoon. The occasion served as the setting for the formal presentation of the fundraising proceeds by Hurling Section Chairman Vincent Peters, assisted by Kilmacud Crokes and Dublin star Fergal Whitely . The day carried an extra special dimension too, with the Quirkes' nephew Colin riding in two races on the card. In a gesture that meant a great deal to everyone in attendance, Colin generously took time out of what was a busy day for an interview with Robbie Irwin in the Kilmacud Crokes hospitality suite.
But the generosity didn't stop there. The Quirke's brought along a framed, Dillon Quirke Foundation-branded Tipperary jersey — signed by the 2025 All-Ireland winning Tipperary team— for inclusion in the race-day auction, with all proceeds going directly to the Foundation. The jersey proved to be a showstopper on the day, eventually finding a happy new home with Tiarnan O'Mahony, adding yet more to the fundraising efforts.
Our sincere thanks go to every member, supporter, and sponsor who contributed. A heartfelt thank you to Hazel and Dan for making the journey and for the grace and warmth they brought to the day, and to Colin for his generosity in taking the time to join us in the tent. And to the Dillon Quirke Foundation — the work of screening young people and catching these hidden conditions early is as important as it gets. We are proud to have contributed, however modestly, to that mission.
If you'd like to learn more or support the Foundation's screening work, visit dillonquirkefoundation.com
To read more about the Kilmacud Crokes Race Day at Punchestown click HERE
