Cian Barrett

Cian Barrett
Personal information
Full name Cian Barrett
Date of birth (2005-04-19) 19 April 2005
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Shamrock Rovers
Number 33
Youth career
–2021 Shamrock Rovers
2021–2022 Shelbourne
2022–2023 Shamrock Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Shamrock Rovers 12 (0)
2023 → Kerry (loan) 24 (0)
2024 → Kerry (loan) 10 (0)
2026 → Waterford (loan) 11 (0)
International career
2019–2020 Republic of Ireland U15 9 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:55, 7 August 2026 (UTC)

Cian Barrett (born 19 April 2005) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland Premier Division club Shamrock Rovers. He has previously spent time on loan at Kerry and Waterford.[1]

Club career

Barrett came through the Shamrock Rovers academy, featuring for the under‑15 side before a move to Shelbourne's under‑17 team under Damien Duff.[2][3] He later rejoined Shamrock Rovers, signing to the senior squad in early 2023.[4] He made his senior debut for the club in a 4–1 victory over UCD in that season's Leinster Senior Cup.

In March 2023, Barrett joined Kerry on loan, making over 25 appearances in their inaugural First Division season.[4] He returned to Shamrock Rovers at the end of the 2023 campaign.[5]

The following season, Barrett was introduced as a substitute in Shamrock Rovers' President's Cup victory. He made 5 league appearances, and was named on the bench in UEFA Champions League qualifiers against Víkingur and Sparta Prague.[2]

Midway through the 2024 season Barrett grew frustrated at the lack of first-team opportunities, and on transfer deadline day in July, he re‑signed for Kerry on loan for the rest of the season.[6] He wore the number 24 shirt and appeared in midfield and defence across ten league games.[7] Barrett returned to Shamrock Rovers at the conclusion of the season.

Barrett became increasingly involved in the Shamrock Rovers first-team squad in 2025. On 31 July, he made his European debut, starting in a UEFA Conference League qualifier against St Joseph's.[8] On 5 October 2025, he scored the first senior goal of his career, the final goal of the game in a 6–1 win over his former club Kerry in the FAI Cup Semi Final at Tallaght Stadium.[9]

On 30 January 2026, Barrett signed for fellow League of Ireland Premier Division club Waterford on a season-long loan deal.[10] On 30 June 2026, his loan spell was cut short after making 11 appearances for Waterford.[11]

Upon returning to Rovers, he picked up an injury at home to Dundalk on 7 August 2026, which saw him undergo surgery that would keep him out of action for 5 or 6 months.[12]

International career

Barrett has represented the Republic of Ireland at youth level. He earned ten caps for the under‑15 team, playing both in defence and midfield.[2][5]

Style of play

Barrett is primarily a midfielder, comfortable playing centrally or on the right side of midfield, but he has also been deployed at centre‑back and right-back.[4][13]

Personal life

He is the son of former Republic of Ireland international, Graham Barrett, and grandson of Gary Barrett, both of whom played for Shamrock Rovers.[1] He credits his father with having a positive influence on his professional career.[3] Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley praised Barrett for “carrying on the tradition through his family”.[1] Barrett attended Tallaght Community School and completed his Leaving Certificate there in 2023.[3]

Career statistics

As of match played on 7 August 2026[14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Shamrock Rovers 2023 LOI Premier Division 00––1[b]010
2024 5000001[c]060
2025 60213[d]00[b]0111
2026 101000–20
Total 120313020201
Kerry (loan) 2023 LOI First Division 24020––260
Kerry (loan) 2024 LOI First Division 10010––110
Waterford (loan) 2026 LOI Premier Division 110––0[e]0110
Total 570613020681
  1. ↑ Includes FAI Cup
  2. 1 2 Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup
  3. ↑ Appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup
  4. ↑ Appearance(s) in the UEFA Conference League
  5. ↑ Appearance(s) in the Munster Senior Cup

References

  1. 1 2 3 Fitzmaurice, Aidan. "'He's carrying on the tradition through his family' – Stephen Bradley heaps praise on Cian Barrett". independent.ie. Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Kerry re-sign Cian Barrett on loan from Shamrock Rovers". extratime.com. Extratime. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Stack, Damian. "Cian Barrett on his dad, Graham, Damien Duff and the road to Kerry FC". independent.ie. Kerryman. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Brennan, Paul. "Kerry FC sign exciting young midfielder Cian Barrett from Shamrock Rovers on loan deal". independent.ie. Kerryman. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  5. 1 2 Brennan, Paul. "Cian Barrett ends loan spell with Kerry FC as the Dubliner returns to Shamrock Rovers". independent.ie. Kerryman. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  6. ↑ Stack, Damian. "Shamrock Rovers' Cian Barrett relishing cup clash with Bohs after re-signing for Kerry FC". independent.ie. Kerryman. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  7. ↑ Stack, Damian. "Shamrock Rovers' Cian Barrett commits to Kerry FC for the rest of the season". independent.ie. Kerryman. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  8. ↑ McDonnell, Daniel. "No stress for Shamrock Rovers as they set up Kosovo trip on strange night in Tallaght". independent.ie. Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  9. ↑ Stadium, Paul Buttner at Tallaght. "Shamrock Rovers set sights on double as they see off Kerry in emphatic fashion". The Irish Times.
  10. ↑ "Cian Barrett Joins The Blues on Season Long Loan! – Waterford FC | Official Site". waterfordfc.ie.
  11. ↑ "Waterford FC (@WaterfordFCie) on X".
  12. ↑ https://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/team-news-away-vs-st-pats/
  13. ↑ Crean, Dermot. "Cian Barrett Returns To Kerry FC For Rest Of Season". traleetoday.ie. Tralee Today. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  14. ↑ "Republic of Ireland - C. Barrett - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.