Darragh Stakelum's sporting adventure continues
Pictured at the launch of the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championships is UCC’s Darragh Stakelum. This season, through its #FirstClassRivals campaign, Electric Ireland will spotlight players from across the Championships in the Electric Ireland ‘Player POV’ series and continue to celebrate the unique alliances that form between county rivals as they come together in pursuit of some of the most coveted titles across GAA.
By Cian O’Connell
It has been a January packed with matches, but Darragh Stakelum wouldn’t have it any other way.
Wednesday evening’s Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup Quarter-Final for UCC away to UL is next on the agenda for Stalekum.
At the weekend, Stakelum netted the insurance goal as Tipperary finished strongly to defeat Galway in an entertaining Allianz Hurling League opener.
Following a splendid 2025 for Tipperary which culminated in All-Ireland SHC glory, Stakelum wants the blue and gold outfit to maintain the high standards set. “It was a brilliant way to finish off a brilliant year for Tipperary GAA in a way,” Stakelum reflects on the afternoon Liam MacCarthy was hoisted.
“It was a special day. It will definitely live long in the memory, so it will. Sport can be so fickle, it can change with the strike of a ball, in a sense.
“It had been tricky the year before. Obviously, we weren't up to scratch in our performances. It can change very quickly, we maybe proved that last year, in a way.
“Also going forward in 2026, it could change very quickly too so you've to be very careful, and tread lightly.”
A fourth year Commerce student in UCC, Stakelum relishes hurling and life Leeside. “We've a nice mix, we've sound out lads, to be fair,” Stakelum says.
Darragh Stakelum Conor Stakelum lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup at Croke Park. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
“I've obviously been down in Cork for the last four years so I've got to know lads a good bit better and the lads on the course, too. It is a different dynamic than hurling with the club or Tipperary. I've thoroughly enjoyed it so far.”
Stakelum’s brother, Conor, and his company Retake, compiled a documentary, Blue to Gold, telling the story of Tipperary’s successful campaign. “It was a good idea, to be fair, and it was well put together at Retake,” he says.
“It was a huge effort from all involved. It really depicted the year and portrayed the year in a way as it occurred.
“He was always good for social media and stuff; it gelled a few things together. He didn't really know what he was letting himself in for.”
The Stakelum family have contributed so much to the GAA throughout the decades. There was always a match or training session to attend. “I played a lot of sport growing up, I played a lot of soccer, and I still play a bit of Gaelic, too,” Stakelum says.
“I did athletics, sport was just something we did every day as a child. We'd go out the back playing. You were growing up with a lot of brothers and cousins, so you'd play a lot of games with them. Every day there was something different.”
Playing for Tipp matters. “Anyone with hurling aspirations or Gaelic Football aspirations in Tipp, it is always to play with Tipperary. So, it is a dream come true, really, in a way.”
The adventure continues.
