Thursday January 9th 2025.
The Ireland Funds was delighted to host Niall Quinn for lunch with members of its Chicago Regional Advisory Committee. Dublin native Niall Quinn is one of the biggest names in soccer, with his legendary career spanning over the 1980s and 1990s, before hanging up his boots in 2002 in favor of soccer, management, commentating and entrepreneurship. Niall had a stellar career, playing for Arsenal, Manchester City and Sunderland and earned 92 caps scoring 21 goals for Ireland over the course of his international career. After he retired from Sunderland in 2002, he went on to become the club’s chairman and manager in July 2006. He held his chairmanship post until 2011. He is the founder and president of Team Taca, a private podcast that collaborates with soccer clubs to produce private and localized club podcasts.
Niall spoke to the guests gathered in his role as Chairman of The Dillon Quirke Foundation. In November 2024, The Ireland Funds had the privilege of hearing from Dan Quirke at its Chicago Dinner. Dan shared the very personal and moving story of the death of his son Dillon from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) and the resulting establishment of The Dillon Quirke Foundation. Today, the Foundation strives to ensure that no family endures what the Quirkes did, by providing cardiac screening for thousands of children playing sports in Ireland. At least five young people’s lives have now been saved due to undergoing cardia screening with many more referred for further intervention.
Niall shared the vision of the Foundation and what they have achieved to date. He thanked The Ireland Funds for its support of the Foundation noting how much it means to the Quirkes and to the families of those who have been saved by this screening program.
Many thanks to Matt Moore at Chicago Cut Steakhouse for generously hosting.
