The true essence of volunteering lies in giving back to a sport or career that has given you so much – so, Ronan Quinn, take a bow.
An accomplished footballer in his day, Ronan has been involved in coaching underage boys and girls teams for over 20 years, but a tragic event in 2024 changed lives in an instant.
The death of Zara Murphy while playing in a match for Termonfeckin Celtic shocked the local football world. As family, friends, team-mates, and the community tried to come to terms with her loss, the desire that she would never be forgotten burned brightly.
The Zara Murphy Academy, headed by Ronan, has been inspired by Zara’s great love for the game. Players are welcomed into the sport, develop skills and learn about friendship and teamwork. Its success has been inspiring.
Ronan, who spent over 30 years in BD, helped many colleagues along the way, as well being part of major fundraising events, from the 10k to the D2K cycle, for charities such as Down Syndrome Ireland, Enable Ireland, Drogheda Hospice and the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association.
Ronan is the latest richly deserving recipient of a Community Champion award, a series launched by Drogheda and District Chamber in association with our great partners in Becton Dickinson.
“To see the success of the Zara Murphy Academy and lives it has impacted says a lot about Zara and those who keep her lightning spirit close to their hearts. Ronan has played a leading role in driving on the academy since it was launched in 2025 and long may it be a shining light in so many ways,” Chamber CEO, Hubert Murphy, stated.