Born in Luton on 23 November 1981 but grew up Enfield, County Meath. After playing junior Gaelic football with Meath G.A.A. at various levels, he joined Enfield Celtic F.C. from school then Dublin’s ‘Home Farms F.C.’ before joining Wolves juniors in 1997. He had a injury ravaged three years at Molineux and returned to Ireland in 2000 and joined Dublin City F.C., but after just two games he announced his retirement and the grounds that he was just not interested in playing football. He then took to working on building sites as a carpenter and gradually took up interest in the sport again. He then went on a course at Dublin University called REAP (Reinvention, Education, Appraisal and Preparation). The course itself is aimed at helping Irish youngsters who find themselves back home after spells with English clubs. Barrett was a graduate of the inaugural program in 2002. Following this he joined Garda Siochano F.C. and then onto Longford Town and in 2003 he helped them to lift the FAI Cup with a Man of the Match performance against St. Patrick Athletic and the following season he again won the cup this time beating Waterford United. In February 2006 he transferred to Drogheda United and helped them lift the Santana Cup in 2006. He has played in the UEFA Cup with both Longford and Drogheda.