Thousands pay respects at funeral of Dillon Quirke

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

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 inter-county and club team mates, as well as the opposition Kilruane MacDonaghs team from last Friday night's match, provided a guard of honour as the cortege made its way from the GAA Clubhouse through the village to St John the Baptists Church for requiem mass.

The coffin was draped in the colours of his club side as well as his county and brought into the church by his Clonoulty-Rossmore team-mates.

The eulogy was delivered by the chairman of Clonoulty-Rossmore GAA Club Andrew Fryday, who is also Dillon's uncle.

Comdt Deirdre Newell was among the mourners, representing President Michael D Higgins, as well as Comdt 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 the board, along with Tipperary GAA chairman Joe Kennedy and fellow officers.

The church was filled to capacity from early morning as well as a large crowd mourning outside.

Symbols remembering Dillon's life were offered by friends and family during the mass, including his hurley, red helmet and Tipperary jersey to represent his love of hurling.

There were also concerts tickets, photographs and an apron from the family business

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

He said that people are really shocked and it was difficult to believe what had happened to Dillon.

He added that in the last few days