Last weekend marked a year since the tragic death of Tipperary hurler Dillon Quirke.
The Clonoulty-Rossmore wing-back collapsed during a club game against Kilruane McDonagh last August, and passed away at the age of just 24.
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A fiercely talented and well-loved player, Quirke had established himself as a regular in the Tipperary intercounty team, and his death has cast a shadow over hurling in the Premier County over the past 12 months.
During the Tipp FM coverage of the county's senior hurling championship on Saturday evening, writer James McKeon read a poem dedicated to Dillon Quirke, as the late hurling star was remembered a year on from his passing.
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Tipperary hurling: Dillon Quirke remembered with poignant Tipp FM poem
Loughmore-Castleiney took on Holycross at Boherlahan GAA club in group 3 of the Tipperary senior hurling championship on Saturday evening.
A thrilling game saw Noel McGrath's Loughmore pip the contest by one point, winning out 1-27 to 3-20.
The game was broadcast live on Tipp FM, with Stephen Glesson on commentary duty - and the commentator called in cousin James McKeon for a touching half-time tribute to the late Dillon Quirke.
McKeon read his moving poem 'In The Grey,' written at the time of Quirke's passing in the summer of 2022, which speaks of the urge to push ourselves on.
"Tomorrow is never guaranteed.." Blown away by the sheer brillance of this poem about Dillon Quirke written by James McKeon...this was live on radio tonight at half time. Hurley hitting ball is the sound in the background. Listen to the words of 'In The Grey' Just class 👏👏 🙌 pic.twitter.com/vYnm7I8jDe
— Stephen Gleeson (@StephenGleeson_) August 12, 2023
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'In The Grey' stands as a beautiful tribute to a fallen hero of Tipperary hurling, and its reading on Tipp FM has drawn praise from the GAA world.
Kerry footballer Paul Galvin and Kilkenny hurler Paul Murphy were among those to praise McKeon's beautiful poem.
Superb https://t.co/0bOCeK6IhY
— paul galvin (@pgal10) August 13, 2023
Outstanding https://t.co/XCFMQ2hyfj
— Paul Murphy (@PaulMurphykk) August 13, 2023
The full text of 'In The Grey' reads:
Tomorrow is never guaranteed
That's what we're told in the aftermath of a tragedy.
Yet I wonder is that forgotten in the grey areas we spend waiting for the next?
Like a train rumbling down the tracks without a set of brakes
We stand in line, our hats clasped in our cold palms,
And nod our heads in a silent agreement to the old man standing in front of us,
That it is shocking sad what's happened here,
Before shaking the hands of the people most shook,
Without ever really knowing what to say.
Sure, what can you say?
'Puts it all into perspective' or 'Sorry for your loss.'
'They lived life to the full' is what we would all want said about ourselves at the dawn of our eternal slumber.
But how many of us do?
If you were to sit in the courtroom,
Tried with limiting yourself, erecting barriers imposing on your own potential.
If you were to sit there and be cross-examined,
12 of your peers guilty of the same all listening intently,
What would be the verdict?
Do you embrace the pounding of your heart before you dive head first out of your comfort zone?
Do you crave trying something new, going further today than you would have managed previously?
And if you do, are you living life to the full?
Do you listen when others speak?
Do you applaud when others perform?
Do you tell yourself you wish you could do something like that?
Well, you can.
You can do the something you would like to do.
Go out and do it.
We spend so much time in the grey,
Bemoaning incalculable badness,
Yet offering diminutive goodness.
So, look the stranger in the eye when they say hello,
Wave at the toddler running amuck in the airport,
Salute the narky old woman from down the road.
Nurture the growth you unearth in yourself when you explore your constitution.
Give all you can while you can,
Because tomorrow is never guaranteed.
Powerful words, and a beautiful way in which to remember Dillon Quirke.
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