BARNDARRIG GAA Club has paid tribute to “beloved friend and teammate” Brendan Stone following his tragic death.
Brendan – who is brother of Wicklow senior football star Malachy Stone – passed away at the weekend.
A passionate GAA and rugby star, his passing yielded a deluge of tributes from across the sporting spectrum in the Garden County.
The two brothers were cornerstones of Barndarrig’s first senior football championship side, with the club paying tribute on social media.
It read: “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of our beloved teammate and friend, Brendan Stone, who left us far too soon.
“Brendan was a cherished member of our club, a dedicated athlete, and an integral part of our community.
“His talent, spirit, and kindness touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing them.
“Brendan had an infectious passion for the sport and was known for his bravery, physicality and determination.
“Whether on or off the field, Brendan brought joy, laughter, and inspiration to us all.
“Brendan was part of the latest generation of the Stone family donning the blue & white of Barndarrig, and still proudly displayed by his brothers and sisters who are the cornerstone of teams they feature on.
“He will have been proud to have featured on the first ever Senior football championship side alongside his brother Malachy, bringing a level of physicality and bravery synonymous with the Stone name.
“To the Stone family Peter, Patsy, Roisin, Aoibhin, Malachy, Fainche, Máire and Diarmuid we offer our deepest condolences, know that we are with you through life’s highs and lows, as you have been for us.”
Oisin McConville’s Wicklow side’s Division 4 league game against Wexford was postponed at the weekend.
And the county said it was “heartbroken” by his untimely passing.
Wicklow GAA said: “Brendan was known to many for his incredible sporting ability, but above all else, he was a beloved son and brother.
“Today, our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with his family—Peter, Patsy, Roisin, Aoibhin, Malachy, Fainche, Máire, and Diarmuid—along with his teammates, friends, and all who were privileged to know him.
“This is a profound loss, and it will take time for us all to come to terms with it.
“For now, our focus is on respecting the privacy of his family and supporting those who played, worked, and shared treasured memories with Brendan, especially the community of Barndarrig GAA Club, where his presence will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
“We are truly grateful for the kindness and support shown by our colleagues in Croke Park and the wider GAA family during this difficult time.”
‘PROFOUND SHOCK’
Along with being a skilled footballer, Brendan was a prodigious talent on the rugby field, having played for Wicklow RFC.
He played for the club since he was six, and was part of its first-ever under-20s team.
He was the 2024 Players’ Player of the Year having led the U18s to a Leinster treble.
Stone also inspired Colaiste Chill Mhantain schools’ team to a historic McMullen Cup final win in Energia Park.
He had followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Malachy, who played for Wicklow RFC in the early 1960s, while his father Peter and brother Malachy also played.
The club said: “It is with profound shock and sadness that we inform you of the tragic passing of our beloved teammate and dear friend Brendan Stone.
“Brendan was a brilliant young rugby player and a fearless competitor.
“He played the game of rugby with skill, balance, speed and ferocity but always with a smile on his face.
“He was a lovely, kind and friendly young man with a wonderful sense of humour and an infectious smile.
“To Brendan’s heartbroken parents, Peter and Patsy, his brothers Malachy and Diarmuid, sisters Aoibhinn, Roisin, Moira and Fainche and extended family and friends, we offer our sincere sympathies on your great loss.
“In this time of unimaginable grief, we will stand together as a club and as a community, offering whatever support we can to Brendan’s family, teammates, and friends.
“May his gentle soul rest in peace.”
