'She was and always will be our hero' - tributes paid after tragic loss of 15-year-old rugby star Naomi

Tributes have been paid following the tragic passing of 15-year-old Wexford native Naomi Howlin, after a brave battle with cancer.

Naomi passed away on Tuesday, surrounded by her family and wearing her Rugby club (Wexford Wanderers) jersey. Naomi was a valued member of the Under-16 side for the Wexford Wanderers RFC, who paid tribute to her in a touching post on social media. 

In a statement on social media, the rugby club said Naomi was "adored by everyone", and added that "everyone at Wexford Wanderers is absolutely devastated to hear that our beloved friend, our sister and our hero Naomi has passed away".

"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. She enjoyed attending Leinster and Ireland games with her family. 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. Naomi passed away on Monday, surrounded by her family, falling asleep wearing her Wexford Wanderers jersey. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam."

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’.

Irish Rugby also posted a touching few words for Naomi, who had visited some of the national team players at a 'Captain's Run' event last August. Naomi reportedly loved nothing more than attending Leinster and Ireland games with her family.

We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Naomi.

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 pic.twitter.com/xbm8V7vmvN

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) April 30, 2024

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.