The father of Dillon Quirke, who died from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome in 2022, has said that a foundation set up in his son's memory has saved more than 30 lives since cardiac screening for young people started.
Dan Quirke was speaking at Clonoulty-Rossmore GAA club in Co Tipperary where the grounds have been renamed in memory of Dillon Quirke who died in a hurling match in Semple Stadium, aged 24.
Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, SADS, occurs when a person under the age of 40 dies suddenly.
In Ireland it claims the lives of up to 100 young people every year.
The Dillon Quirke Foundation was established in 2023 to raise awareness of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome and fund widespread cardiac screening for young people, aged 14-18, involved in sport.
"It's been amazing really," said Mr Quirke.
"When we set up the foundation we'd hoped to screen 5,000 young kids in our first year, but as of the end of August we have screened nearly 19,000 and we'll have 20,000 reached by year end.
"It's been a huge solace to me as Dillon's dad, and also to the family, that we can do that."
Where screening has identified a cardiac problem, in a number of cases successful surgeries have followed.
"More than 30 procedures have taken place," Mr Quirke said, "and we've saved lives".
"Realistically, as a family and a foundation we think screening should be mandatory in this country. We feel that kids deserve to be screened because we can save lives.
"I think parents need to know this problem is out there. We're told from people on the ground that it's actually getting worse and that's very sad to hear, but by screening and by raising awareness, we know we can make a difference."
Tom Quilter, an 18-year-old footballer from Fenit, Co Kerry used to train four or five times a week.
Initially, he was not booked into a slot when his GAA club Churchill signed up for the Dillon Quirke Foundation screening programme in August 2024.
His sister, Ciara, was unable to make her appointment so he took her slot.
"Sometimes I'd be playing, and I'd be feeling dizzy and short of breath. I always thought I had asthma," he said.
"So, I went to MTU in Tralee for an ECG. Just later that evening I got a phone call that I had Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome and to stop playing sport immediately."
It was identified that Tom was born with a heart defect, which meant there was a high risk of cardiac arrest while playing sport.
Following two surgical procedures and a six-month break from playing sport, Tom has now returned to playing football.
"We are forever grateful to the Quirke Foundation and to the Quirke family," says Rosarie Quilter, Tom's mother.
"For us, the way our life could have changed, if we hadn't discovered this."
Ms Quilter and her husband John are now strong advocates of screening teenagers who play sport.
"One message we want to get out there is that was a simple ten-minute test that saved our son’s life," Mr Quilter said.
"Since Tom's diagnosis and after his operations, we got in contact with Dan Quirke and straightaway Dan encouraged us to go on our own local media to tell Tom's story and spread the word.
"And there’s a huge uptick now in Kerry with all sports clubs taking up the Dillon Quirke initiative - a simple test can save someone’s life."
13-year-old Ellie Mulhall, from Blessington, Co Wicklow was also diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome when she attended cardiac screening provided by the Dillon Quirke Foundation at her local GAA club.
"We got a bit of a shock and we were in a daze for a few days," said Sue Mulhall, Ellie’s mother.
"The company that did the screening through the Dillon Quirke Foundation were amazing. They contacted us the next morning and they referred us to Crumlin Hospital immediately.
"Then Ellie had a cardiac ablation done earlier this year as it was affecting the pathway of her heart and two weeks later, they repeated their test and she was fine."
Ellie is now back playing sport with a clean bill of health.
Both the Mulhall and the Quilter families are deeply grateful to the Dillon Quirke Foundation and Dillon's parents, Dan and Hazel.
Last week, they came to the Clonoulty-Rossmore GAA club in Co Tipperary to raise awareness for the Dillon Quirke Foundation.
Also in attendance were the victorious senior Tipperary hurling team, together with the Liam McCarthy Cup, who were honouring Dillon's memory.
Captain Ronan Maher, who delivered a memorable post-victory speech acknowledging Dillon at the All-Ireland final, said the Tipperary team is tight all because of Dillon.
"He was a great leader on the field for us and a great leader in the dressing-room for us," he said, "and it definitely was the first thing, when I was putting pen to paper, to mention Dillon.
"We are such a good, tight, friendly unit and one thing we always do is look at his plaque in the corner of the dressing-room every day we go out."
For Dillon's parents, Dan and Hazel, All-Ireland day when Tipperary won their 29th Senior Hurling title, holds bittersweet memories.
They watched the final between Tipperary and Cork at home.
"It was great in one sense and really difficult in another," said Mr Quirke.
"To see the joy on the faces of all the Tipp guys and supporters was amazing.
"It was a great day, but mixed emotions because we would have felt that Dillon should have been there but unfortunately circumstances didn't allow that to happen, but it was a great occasion.
"I’m delighted Tipp won and for all of Dillon's friends."
The work of the foundation continues and Dillon Quirke's legacy lives on in the screening programme, which aims to reach 50,000 young people in five years and potentially save lives.
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