Interview with Clodagh Quirke – Tipperary’s Unsung Hero

Home / Interview with Clodagh Quirke – Tipperary’s Unsung Hero

April 07, 2021

Those of us following Tipperary camogie know that it’s no coincidence that Tipperary’s progress in reaching 3 senior All-Ireland semi-finals in a row has coincided with Clodagh Quirke’s development as a top class defender and an established player in Bill Mullaney’s team. I recently spoke to Clodagh to learn more about her playing career and life on and off the field.

Despite being first called into the Tipperary senior panel while still a minor Clodagh’s rise to the top of her game took time and lots of hard work. First there was a cruciate knee ligament injury to contend with. The timing of the injury effectively ruled the Clonoulty Rossmore player out of action for two seasons. She then had to deal with a couple of years where any appearances for the blue and gold were made coming off the bench. All the time Clodagh was quietly focussed on breaking into the starting 15 and her steely determination has led to where she is today, one of the finest defenders in the game and an all-star nominee in 2019. 

2018 was the year she really cemented her place on the starting 15 operating either at corner or wing back. Her excellent displays throughout Tipperary’s league and championship campaign continued into her club performances that year, helping Clonoulty in no small way to reach a senior county final. It was also the year her leadership qualities came to the fore and in 2019 she was named captain of the senior team. Clodagh recalls that moment “ it was a great honour to be asked to be captain. I was taken back at the time as it had only being the year before that I really nailed down a spot on the team. For years I really wanted to start and at times you wonder were you ever going to play. Nowadays I see girls on the panel and I know they’re probably wondering the same thing. So I always tell them to keep working hard and your day will come.”

Clodagh grew up on a dairy farm. She has 3 older brothers Philip, Andrew and Ciaran and a younger brother and sister Odhran and Avril. All the family were mad into hurling and camogie growing up and many a matches took place at home. Clodagh’s Uncles all hurled for Clonoulty while her cousin Dillion is a county senior hurler. She joined the local camogie club at a young age but also hurled with the boys at u12 and u14.

“The late Francis Maher was over our Junior camogie team and the boys u14 team one year and I remember myself and Sarah Fryday playing an u14 league final with the boys and then Francis driving us straight to a Junior Camogie county final afters and Sarah and I coming on as subs.” They were great times.

Clodagh enjoyed some underage success with Clonoulty as well as winning a Junior B, Junior A and intermediate county title. After studying Financial Maths in NUIG, she got a job with Northern Trust where she continues to work. Leaving college and starting a career meant a better routine and eating and training habit. Clodagh credits this in playing a part in improving her fitness and her hurling which ultimately led to a starting position on the senior team. For 3 years she made the daily commute to Limerick for work but Covid has meant that for almost a year now she has been working from home. Home today is a rented house in Thurles which she shares with her friend Aimee and Tipp teammates Cait Devane, Sarah Fryday and Andrea Loughnane, They all decided to move in together last May. While positives from Covid can be hard to find, Clodagh declares working from home a “much better lifestyle for playing Camogie’.  And with Cait and Sarah a dab hand at the cooking  “it’s like I never left home, as they would have the dinner on the table ready for me when I finish work.” Clodagh pulls her weight too though as a self-confessed “clean freak” she will happily do the cleaning while they do the cooking. 

Our discussion turns to Clodagh’s favourite position to play. “If I could play anywhere it would be wing back. I love being out in the half backline as there’s more freedom. I played full back with the club this year. I didn’t mind playing there, you’re there to do a job, to spoil the ball but out wing back you definitely have more freedom to express yourself.” Watching Tipperary camogie  the last few season like many GAA teams it can be hard to know who is exactly playing where in the backline, I put it to Clodagh that the day of 6 versus 6 seems to be gone. “It really depends on the management and the opposition. In most games at least 2 of our defenders will be given a job of man marking someone and following them wherever they go. Definitely nowadays there is a lot more analysis of the opposition and certain players are highlighted that need to be picked up. Everyone needs to be flexible and be able to adapt to play in different places. We all have confidence in the players around us and that is the most important thing.”

Clodagh credits two of her current team-mates the best she has ever played with – Cait Devane and Mary Ryan. Having played with Cait all her life with club and county Clodagh knows her inside out. “Cait is not only one of the most skilful players but she is also such a smart player and is brilliant at bringing other players around her into the game. Mary is another player I really admire. She is always so consistently good and can play anywhere. As a fellow back I always want Mary lined out beside me in every game. ”Marking Cait regularly at club and county training keeps Clodagh on her toes and prepares her for marking some of the best forwards in the country. Asked who the best player she has played against, she immediately says Kilkenny’s Denise Gaule.


 Clodagh has fond memories of her last bit of silverware with Tipperary, a minor All-Ireland title won in 2011 alongside other current Tipperary senior players Nicole Walsh, Julieanne Bourke, Ereena Fryday, Sarah Fryday and Andrea Loughnane. Like everyone involved she would dearly love to win a senior all-Ireland title. I wonder how she stays motivated to come back every year and go through all the tough pre-season training and other sacrifices that have to be made to play intercounty camogie. “It’s a tricky one; because I haven’t had much success it can be hard to stay motivated. I see other girls on the panel who have won senior county finals with Duharra and Drom-Inch and I feel that keeps them going. Then there are a large group of the girls who have tasted success wining Ashbourne titles with UL. But it works the other way too. Because I would love so badly to win something it keeps me going to come back every year hoping this will be our year. For a good few years with Tipp we struggled to win group games, so to have reached the last 3 semi-finals has been progress and has made it easier to come back the following year as you feel you are getting closer.”

So could 2021 be the year Tipperary get back to an All-Ireland final. Clodagh firmly believes the talent is there within the group and that the management team are working hard “to get the best out of us.” Just as in 2019 Clodagh once again played every minute of championship for Tipp in 2020. Her performances have been so consistent that she has become an ever reliant presence in the backline. She is highly respected amongst all her teammates and is held in high regard amongst management.  Never one to seek the limelight she is very unassuming and down to earth. Tipperary’s unsung hero on a quest for glory.