Wexford mourns the loss of inspiring Naomi (15) after brave battle with illness – ‘She was and always will be our hero’

A dark cloud hung over Wexford Wanderers Rugby Club this week as news filtered to Park Lane of the passing of a club member, a friend and “a hero” to all involved in the setup there.

A valued member of the girls U16 rugby team, Naomi Howlin had been nothing short of an inspiration to all within the club. Naomi bravely battled a rare and aggressive form of cancer before she finally succumbed to the illness on Monday, surrounded by her heartbroken family and wearing the jersey of her beloved Wexford Wanderers.

The local community in Wexford was deeply saddened by the news and thoughts and prayers were directed towards Naomi’s devastated parents Barry and Niamh and her brother Stephen. However, it quickly became clear that Naomi had been a source of inspiration to people across the country, particularly some of her favourite international rugby players.

While battling cancer herself, Naomi bravely insisted on helping others in the same position last year as she took part in Relay for Life Wexford with her family and Páirc Charman with under the team name ‘Naomi’s Gnomes’.

At the time it was noted that a visit to CareDoc in June of 2022 resulted in Naomi beginning aggressive chemotherapy just ten days later for an incredibly rare form of cancer.

It was from her hospital bed on St John’s Ward in Crumlin Children’s Hospital that she set the task of raising funds for the Irish Cancer Society via Relay for Life. The family received great support at the time and, naturally, her club was with her every step of the way, even helping to auction off a signed Leinster Rugby jersey for the cause.

A huge rugby fan, in May of last year Naomi and her brother Stephen lined out alongside some of the greats of the game to take part in Rory Best’s Miles 2 Mayo challenge.

Naomi played a vital role in helping the former Ireland captain to promote his major fundraiser for the Cancer Fund for Children and she and Stephen accompanied him on the final leg of the challenge alongside such other rugby greats as Brian O’Driscoll and Rob Kearney.

At the launch, Best said: “Not only is Naomi a passionate rugby fan, she also has her own experience of cancer and her family understands the impact having Daisy Lodge in Mayo would have on families.”

Urging people to support Cancer Fund for Children, he asked the public to “get behind my campaign so we can support families like Naomi’s”.

The IRFU paid a wonderful tribute to the Wexford teen, who had also taken part in the Captain’s Run sessions at The Aviva Stadium last year where she got to meet several of her favourite players, such as Bundee Aki.

“We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Naomi,” an IRFU statement said.

“We had the pleasure of welcoming her to one of our Captain’s Run sessions at Aviva Stadium last August.

“We were all inspired by Naomi’s positivity and bravery and we are thinking of her family and friends at Wexford Wanderers.”

Everyone involved with her local club was devastated by the loss of Naomi and in a moving statement, the club noted just how much of an impact she had on the entire rugby community.

“Everyone at Wexford Wanderers is absolutely devastated to hear that our beloved friend, our sister and our hero Naomi has passed away,” it said.

“Adored by everyone, Naomi was a member of our U16 Girls team and loved being in Park Lane with her friends. She loved nothing more than to tell everyone she met how her team won the Leinster League in 2023 with her playing a vital role on the sideline.

“Naomi caught the hearts of all she met with her quick wit and sense of humour. Our friends at Leinster and Irish rugby were enthralled with her strength of character and provided her with some experiences over the last while that she cherished, and we also know she gave many of the players she met along the way inspiration from her positive, heart of a lion attitude.

“To describe her as brave wouldn’t begin to do justice to our friend. She was and always will be our hero.”

In terms of experiences, while bravely battling illness, Naomi expressed her wish to have a spin on a motorcycle. The Green Knights motorcycle club were happy to oblige and met with Naomi for her family, giving her a day to remember.

“As bikers, we have a tradition of supporting charities and families,” Paul Byrne said on behalf of the club. “We got to meet Naomi as she wanted a spin on a motorcycle. Her grand uncle Tomás Mason fulfilled her wish and the club was there to meet her.

“It is with great sadness we tell you she lost her battle with cancer yesterday. We send our deepest sympathies to her family.”

Naomi’s remains will repose at Macken’s Funeral Home, Distillery Road, Wexford, on Wednesday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Her funeral will arrive at the Church of the Assumption Bride Street on Thursday morning for funeral mass at 10 a.m. followed by burial afterwards at Crosstown Cemetery.

Naomi was the beloved daughter of Barry and Niamh; sister of Stephen; granddaughter of Joe and the late Imelda Howlin and Paul and Nora O’ Brien.

She is very sadly missed by her parents, brother, grandparents, also Bev, Mag and John, uncles Danny and Dermot, aunties Joan and Deirdre, cousins, extended family, neighbours and friends. May she rest in peace.

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