Dillon Quirke given a worthy send off in Clonoulty

By Shane Brophy

Thousands of people attended the funeral of Tipperary hurler Dillon Quirke in his home village of Clonoulty on Tuesday afternoon.

The 24-year-old died on Friday night after collapsing on the pitch at Semple Stadium, Thurles while playing for his club Clonoulty-Rossmore.

Dillon's Tipperary inter-county and club teammates, as well as the opposition Kilruane MacDonaghs team from last Friday's match, provided a guard of honour as the cortege made its way from the GAA Clubhouse through the village to St John the Baptist Church for requiem mass. The coffin was draped in the green and yellow colours of his club side as well as the blue and gold of his county, and brought into the church by his Clonoulty-Rossmore team-mates.

Commandant Deirdre Newell was among the mourners, representing President Michael D Higgins, as well as Commandant Claire Mortimer on behalf of Taoiseach Michael Martin. Figures from the GAA world also paid their respects, including GAA president Larry McCarthy, Munster Council CEO Kieran Leddy and officers of board, along with Tipperary GAA chairman Joe Kennedy and fellow officers.

Symbols remembering Dillon's life were offered by friends and family during the mass, including his hurley, his iconic red helmet and a Tipperary jersey to represent his love of hurling. There were also concerts tickets, photographs, and an apron from the family deli business.

In his sermon, parish priest Father Thomas Ahern, said that last Friday it seemed like the parish was frozen in time.

“We are all finding it very difficult to believe that this has really happened,” he said.

“We all have many questions. We ask why? Why did someone so young die? Unfortunately, we don’t have the answers, at least not now but we hope because of our faith that one day we will know the reason why.”

He added that his friends and team-mates have lost a valued friend, but parents Dan and Hazel have lost a much-loved son, and Kelly and Shannon have lost a much loved brother. He said that they have shared loss and pain together but that the community will be a great comfort to each other.

The eulogy was delivered by the chairman of the Clonoulty-Rossmore club, Andrew Fryday, who is also Dillon's uncle who reflected on his final act on Friday.

“Dillon was going so well. He was a power of strength, a leading player, a leading captain, leading from the front, showing his ability and skill,” he said.

“It was a disaster to us to see him leaving Semple Stadium the way he left but while he was in there he left it the way he wanted to leave it as the shining star he was.”

On behalf of the family, he thanked everyone for their support over the past four days, including opponents Kilruane MacDonaghs, match referee Michael Kennedy, Ciara Gleeson (Clonoulty team physio), Semple Stadium, the Order of Malta, Ambulance staff, An Garda Siochana, and Peter Murchin and his team at Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel.

In saluting the support of their home community of Clonoulty/Rossmore he said it as a “one for all and all for one attitude” and would never be forgotten.

The final word went to Dillon’s father Dan who said: “to my wonderful son and best friend, thank you for all the wonderful memories.

“On the pitch you were a hero but off the pitch you were our everything. Your sisters idolised you, you had the passional and sincerity of Shannon and the roguery and devilment of Kellie. Thank you for always looking out for them Dillon.

“Hazel, you have been an exceptional wife and a most wonderful mother. You did an incredible job raising three fabulous children. A lot of people said what a wonderful child he was and it is a tribute to what an extraordinary mother you are.

“Dillon had your caring, soft, sensitive side and I think we all know where he got his good looks from.

“He came into this world a fighter, born prematurely after a terrible car accident but he left a champion. I will miss you forever Dillon, a true legend.”

Following funeral mass, he was buried in the adjoining cemetery in Clonoulty.