GARRY FARRELL:GARRY FARRELL, who has died aged 54, played a substantial role in the development of Ireland's mountain rescue services, serving terms as both secretary and chairman of the national association.
He was a strong advocate of volunteerism and life-long education, passions he put into practice in his own life. In 1977, he was one of the founder members of the South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association, established in response to a fatal air crash in the Galtee Mountains the previous September. And as a mature student, he studied to postgraduate level.
Farrell was born in Co Waterford in 1956, the eldest son of the late Simon and Peggy Farrell of Cluain na Laoi, Waterford. Later, Farrell’s home was also there, at Whistler in Ballinakill.
For almost 36 years, Farrell worked for the department of post and telegraphs, which went through various guises – the area in which he worked eventually became Eircom. From trainee technician, he moved through several sections including those dealing with microwave and radio links, statistics, data recovery and management to, most recently, IT and quality management.
But it was in the voluntary sector that he made his greatest contribution to the community.
In the early years of the South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association, Farrell was one of the founding stalwarts who kept the team going, reminding colleagues that every day was another day closer to the day when they would be needed. He served in a number of positions, both operational and administrative.
Farrell commanded several search and rescue missions, and was instrumental in the start of search planning training in Ireland, bringing to Waterford expertise from the US Emergency Response Institute. This led to the introduction of small fast-moving search parties to replace the long, slow, inflexible search lines controlled by a stressed search leader.
Farrell was one of only three honorary life members of Comeragh Mountaineering Club, as well as a lifelong member of An Óige, the Irish Youth Hostels Association. He did a lot of youth work including with the local scouts and organising adventure sports with the Waterford Youth Committee.
He was a firm believer in life-long education and his own honours degree in information technology was obtained part-time through Oscailt – the distance learning arm of Dublin Institute of Technology. He went on to earn a master’s degree in software and information systems from NUI Galway and Regis University in Colorado.
Farrell relished the challenge of teaching and passed on his knowledge and skills to young people and mature students at Waterford Institute of Technology.
In recent years, he and his family puppy-walked dogs for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and their dog is breeding stock for the association.
His beloved golden retriever, Waika, who was at his funeral, had her first litter of puppies for the association last year, when he was diagnosed with cancer.
Farrell died the day after he returned from Lourdes, where he had spent five days with his family.
He was married to Áine (née O’Brien) for almost 24 years. She survives him, along with their children, Odran and Emlyn.
Thomas PG (Garry) Farrell: Born October 31st, 1956; died May 31st, 2011