Young GAA players in Cork screened for heart abnormalities under the work of Dillon Quirke Foundation
Programme has already identified 243 cardiac abnormalities in young GAA players
The Foundation was established in honour of former Tipperary hurler Dillon, who collapsed during a club hurling match with Clonoulty/Rossmore and passed away of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) during August, 2022 in Semple Stadium, Thurles.
His family - parents Dan and Hazel, along with sisters Shannon and Kellie - formed the Dillon Quirke Foundation with a mission to prevent similar tragedies by funding cardiac screenings.
Unfortunately SADS claims 100 young lives each year in Ireland, and the Foundation was created with the aim of raising awareness and setting up a screening programme for players, both male and female, from 12 years of age upwards.
During 2024, the charity visited 275 sports clubs across GAA, soccer, rugby, boxing and performing arts.
In conjunction with Cork-based Advanced Medical Services, a total of 243 cardiac abnormalities were detected because of the programme and the subsequent advice provided to undergo follow-up cardiology examinations.
Ballydesmond GAA Club Chairman Niall Ronan extended thanks to Dillon Quirke Foundation for their presence with 46 boys and girls participating in the vital service.
'The response was brilliant, the event targeted our players aged between 12 and 18years old, its aim is to prioritise the health and well-being of our young teams by offering cardiac screenings,' he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Extra.ie
4 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Hospice nurse claims everyone has same 'vision' at death
A Los Angeles-based hospice nurse has captured the internet's attention with her claims about 'visions' in the final moments of life. Julie McFadden, better known as 'Hospice Nurse Julie' to her 1.7 million TikTok followers, is lifting the veil on what happens when someone is nearing death and why we shouldn't be afraid to talk about it. Her mission is simple, to reduce the taboo around dying. Through short-form videos, she explains everything from physical changes in the body to emotional and spiritual shifts, helping others face mortality with a little less fear and a lot more understanding. A Los Angeles-based end-of-life nurse has captured the internet's attention with her candid, compassionate insights into the final moments of life. Pic: Getty Images With warmth and clarity, McFadden shares the subtle but profound signs that the end is approaching including an unexpected one: the sudden appearance of a peaceful, even joyful, grin. In her YouTube video Julie explained: 'If you're not familiar with the end-of-life phenomena, there's a few things that happen at the end of life to most people. 'One of the things is called a death stare, which is when someone gets really fixated on a certain part of the room, and no matter what you do. 'You can snap your finger right in front of their face – and they will not move their gaze,' she added. 'Sometimes they just stare. Sometimes they will talk to someone who you don't see. 'Sometimes they'll have a big smile on their face, like they're seeing something that's obviously making them very happy.' Julie McFadden, better known as 'Hospice Nurse Julie' to her 1.7 million TikTok followers, is lifting the veil on what happens when someone is nearing death and why we shouldn't be afraid to talk about it. Pic: Getty Another key indicator Julie often observes in those nearing death is known as end-of-life 'visioning', a phenomenon she describes as 'one of the main experiences we (healthcare workers) witness in the final days.' Julie explained: 'This is when someone sees someone who has died already that they usually love and know, (they might) have conversations right in front of us with these people that we don't see.' 'It happens to almost everyone,' she claims. 'It happens so often that we actually put it in our educational books to educate patients and their families to expect this.' The hospice nurse added: 'It usually starts happening a few weeks to a month before someone dies.'
Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Hospice nurse says patients see 'beautiful' thing before they die
A hospice nurse has disclosed the revealing indicator that suggests someone is approaching their final moments - and it's been characterised as 'beautiful'. The Los Angeles-based palliative care specialist is working to reduce the taboo around death - and has outlined the 'broad grins' some patients display alongside another indicator that the end is approaching. Julie McFadden, 41, highlighted warning signs that could suggest a person has merely weeks remaining in a recent clip uploaded to her YouTube channel where she provides understanding into the enigma of passing away. She's recognised as 'Hospice Nurse Julie' across social media and boasts 1.7 million followers on TikTok. Julie aims to expose the anxiety surrounding death and encourage discussion about this topic that frightens many people, reports the Express. One 'beautiful' indicator has been outlined in her video content. The compassionate nurse has disclosed two poignant primary indicators she observes in patients nearing life's conclusion, with the initial one being the 'death stare'. Relatives who have witnessed their family members approach death may have noticed this indicator as well - and Julie has provided additional information about a person's 'final days' and what might signal that death is approaching. Speaking in the video, Julie details one patient's 'huge smile' as if he was seeing someone (Image: YouTube) In her YouTube video Julie explained: "If you're not familiar with the end-of-life phenomena, there's a few things that happen at the end of life to most people. "One of the things is called a death stare, which is when someone gets really fixated on a certain part of the room, and no matter what you do. "You can snap your finger right in front of their face - and they will not move their gaze." 'Sometimes they just stare. Sometimes they will talk to someone who you don't see. "Sometimes they'll have a big smile on their face, like they're seeing something that's obviously making them very happy." End-of-life 'visioning' represents another indicator that Julie witnesses in individuals nearing death, describing it as 'one of the main phenomena that we (healthcare workers) see at the end of life'. Julie explained: "This is when someone sees someone who has died already that they usually love and know, (they might) have conversations right in front of us with these people that we don't see." This terminal occurrence means patients may experience visions of family members, perhaps deceased parents - or it could involve former friends or loved ones who have passed away. Julie recounted one patient's 'enormous grin' as though he was observing someone or something 'over there' in another section of the room. She explained: "I wanted his wife to see this because a lot of times these end-of-life phenomena can kind of give you a timeline of when this person may be dying. "It usually starts happening a few weeks to a month before someone dies." She noted that 'many people say they see many different things and it usually depends on what religion they are'. Julie highlighted the encouraging aspect that individuals at this stage are typically 'content and beaming'. At times, 'they don't see any kind of deity at all' she clarified, perhaps not even a person, some dying individuals have mentioned 'I see beautiful clouds' or 'I see flowers', the nurse elucidated, while others claim they see 'Jesus or God or angels'.
Irish Examiner
20 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Alcohol Ireland's leading addiction among those seeking treatment from services, new report shows
Alcohol remains the leading national addiction, but cocaine is now the biggest addiction problem in the east of the country. A new report on addiction trends produced by Coolmine Therapeutic Community, the drug and alcohol treatment service, covers the first half of the year and shows demand for treatment services remains at record-high levels. The data shows alcohol accounted for 40% of all presentations to its services so far this year, a slight increase from 37% during the same period in 2024. Cocaine is next, accounting for 31% of presentations, followed by cannabis at 11%, benzodiazepines at 9%, and heroin accounting for 8% of presentations. But the report also found notable differences in regional trends, with alcohol the most common substance in the south-west of the country, accounting for 53% of presentations, and at 34% in the mid-west. Cocaine remains the leading substance in the east of the country, at 36%. A total of 1,969 clients accessed treatment and support through Coolmine in the first half of the year, virtually unchanged from the record-setting demand experienced in 2024. Coolmine chief executive Pauline McKeown said this suggested elevated service levels had become the new norm for addiction treatment in Ireland. 'Alcohol and cocaine remain the most prominent substances for which people are seeking help, and demand for our services — especially for women and families — remains incredibly high," she said. 'Our teams continue to meet this need with compassion and professionalism. At Coolmine, we believe in the power of recovery and are committed to ensuring people across Ireland can access the support they need to transform their lives." A breakdown of the treatment figures shows nationally, 57% of clients were men and 43% women, reflecting an increase in female engagement compared to 2024. Coolmine supported 305 families across its services so far this year, with 37 parents involved in its Parents under Pressure (PuP) programme, and it has 35 children living with a parent in treatment. A total of 1,794 children were directly impacted by parental substance use and received support, the report shows. Coolmine also said its residential and community services were nearing full capacity, with Ashleigh House, its dedicated residential programme for women and mothers with young children, and Coolmine Lodge, the male residential therapeutic community, operating at 100% occupancy. Its Dublin-based outreach services saw a 15.6% increase in presentations, with 414 individuals supported through the Assertive Traveller Outreach, Private Emergency Accommodations Team, and Genio programmes in the first half of the year, with a significant portion of the demand linked to housing and emergency accommodation. 'The sustained pressure on our residential and outreach services shows the scale of need we are responding to every day. We are seeing more people, from more backgrounds, reaching out for support,' Ms McKeown said.
