John M. Farrell

I am so sorry to hear the news about John. I have such fond memories of first knowing him in the mid 1980s when I was an ASM on Horizon productions. He was so supportive, encouraging, and dynamic, and will be missed so much. Condolences to his family and friends.

Thoughts of John as Whitman….and correspondences….Rest in peace!

I've only just heard about John's passing. My deepest condolences to the family. It has been years since I last saw him but he was always interesting company and fun to be with

So sorry a friend from Bishop Ford and then Columbia. John I last saw you at your birthday a few years ago in Brooklyn with Chris Monigan Just two years ago I was myself in Galway for the first time it was a rough passage to the Aran Islands. I have remembered you at mass and pray you are in a better place now. Rest in Peace

Rest in peace John. I remember you as an inspirational teacher and for the energy and disruption you brought with Horizon theatre company.

My darling friend, confidant, and mentor for over 40 years. John was funny, incredibly bright, inventive, and could cook and dance with aplomb. He was an inspiration to the theatre world. I will miss you forever, John, but I am happy that you are back with your darling Bill now. XOX from Anne.

I worked with John in several theatrical productions as a member of Columbia Players in NYC, was his friend, and helped him move to Ireland and later visited him there. He was a delightful and creative person and a man of conscience and intelligence. I share deeply in the sadness of his passing and have faith in the continuing life of his beautiful spirit.

Go bless you John. You were one of a kind, a genius, and you will be much missed.

Still remember the first time ever I saw John, on our way into the offices of In Dublin magazine on Baggot St, where he was a theatre critic. Listening to him chatting with colleagues and pals (during and post-work) was like accidentally tuning into the best possible of all possible radio shows (political analysis, drama, science, gossip, philosophy, etc, and of course theatre) all rolled into one. He was a great listener too, the mark of a true pal. RIP John.

So sorry to hear you've left us John. When I think of you I think of your smile, Bill by your side, and the energy with which you entered a room. Always a director's book under your arm. Rest in peace.

Very sorry to learn of John’s passing. He was one of a kind. RIP dear John.

Fond memories of John back in Dublin in the 80’s
An amazing drama teacher when I was at the Gaiety School of Acting.
A leading light in Dublin’s contemporary theatre scene
A tour de force
Thinking of John’s family at this difficult time
Rest easy Sir .

Sending sincere sympathy to all John’s loved ones. He was a lovely man. RIP

thank you for celerating the spirit o St Patrick these last 5 years may your spirit live on and not be forgotten

I first met John in a dream we shared when I was 15. I was thinking of running away from home. He told me in the dream to stay. We both were going to St. Savior's School at the time, though we didn't meet in person until years later when we were both in the Everyman Company. When night after a rehearsal we and some friends were at a bar in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. We were telling stories about dreams we had had. I started telling mine and John finished the story. That's the moment I knew that he was and always had been an important person in my life.
Years later it happened again. I called John in Ireland. He was living in the Dublin then with Bill. It just so happened I was on my way to London. He said come visit. I did.
I could tell about when we were in the Everman Company. I could tell when we did a scene study of the balcony scene in Romeo & Juliet - we felt that we were being typecast and decided to stage it in a bar on the waterfront. How much fun we had.
Or I could tell about the time we and our friends decided to see how many people we could fit in a "turntable style" of token booth. I think we made it to six or seven and then we got stuck and had to wait for someone to come along and help us out.
So many memories, of which these are just a few.
He really was the most amazing person. I will miss him forever and a day. RIP dear friend.

Grateful to have met the lovely John in recent months, thankful to him for the warm conversation and stories - loved hearing every detail of his antics in Manhattan and the backstage Broadway gossip! As Sondheim would say, thank you for "varying my days". He will be greatly missed, may his kind soul rest in peace x

Sorry to hear of John's passing.Once the organiser of many wonderful summer Shakespeare in the Park in Stevens Green in the 80s. Went on to be a producer at RTE.He was a lively friend.

So very sad to hear of John's passing. He was an incredibly energetic pioneer in the field of theatre. Many times brought the streets of Dublin alive with his performance ideas. His like will never be seen again.

Remembering some of our best work together John, with love:

[now] thou liest warm at home, secure and safe (The Taming of the Shrew – Katharina)
Give me thy hand; ‘tis late, farewell; good night (Romeo & Juliet – Friar Lawrence)
But that’s all one, our play is done (Twelfth Night – Clown sings)

Blessings to John's family and friends.

I met John at Galway's Theatre Room where he brought a huge amount of energy and mischief mixed with a unique sensibility to all the shows he was involved in. We had a plan to collaborate but it didn't happen in the end. We had a few memorable chats and I'm genuinely sorry to see him go. Best of luck John.

I knew John through a theater group in Galway. He had great time for everyone and was a lovely man. My sympathies go out to his family and friends, I am sorry for your loss.

"Fare well sweet prince! The sun is set, the light dimmed, memories and laughter will see us through"

Such sad news deepest sympathy to all a wonderful force of nature departed rest in peace Magnificent John

I met John in Galway's Theatre room. He was so friendly, happy and full of life. I enjoyed so much hanging out with John in Salthill. Such a lovely lovely man. I'm sorry I hadn't known he was ill. Rest in peace John and thank you for being so kind and sincere. Goodnight sweet prince and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest 🙏

Ach! This is such sad news. What can we say about John and the role he has played in the lives and careers of so many people? He was a genuinely warm, caring and hugely knowledgeable man. When someone of such intelligence and experience dies, there is a special feeling of loss. Such is my feeling having heard this news. It is so hard to believe. I didn't know that John was iĺl, so the shock is even more profound. My sincerest condolences to John's family and to his enormous circle of friends. He was truly an exceptional man and will be missed so much. May he rest in peace.

Thanks for the memories, John. Rest peacefully, lovely man.

He will be greatly missed but his legacy of fine work remains permanently.

I heard of the legend that is John Farrell long before I met him. Truly one of a kind and a loss to many. Celestial love and only good memories.

I am so sad to hear of the passing of one of the most brilliant humans I have had the privilege to call a friend so many years from Brooklyn to Galway. Rest in peace in Bill's arms.

Very sorry to hear the news of John's passing. I befriended him in 2019 and he was a fantastic character to know. The advice and encouragement he shared were second to none. His stories of New York/Dublin/Galway were legendary - what a life he had lived. Regret that I hadn't visited him in a while and didn't know he was sick. I'll never forget the times shared with him. Condolences to all his family and his friends, who meant the world to him. Goodbye John

May you rest in Peace, John. My condolences to all your family and friends.

Rest in Peace John,
Liz & family

Such sad news. John was a FORCE when me and my generation were finding our way forwards. RIP x

Goodnight, sweet prince..

Deepest condolences to John's family. A very talented and lovely man. RIP.

It was a pleasure to know John, however briefly it was. He was an absolute gent and a very talented actor and theatre maker. Rest in peace John

Deepest condolences to John’s family. He will be greatly missed. A truly wonderful & gifted man 🌹

Your are the greatest of inspirations , thank you for being a friend, your energetic encouragement and insightful advice always, Mark xx

Im absolutely devasted to hear this news. John was one of the most talented, kind, intellectual, and fun-loving people I've ever met. I loved being in his company and enjoyed his performances and times spent at dinner parties, which he always enriched with tales of New York. My only comfort is the thought that he is back where he belongs, in Bill's arms. And if the while, I think on thee, dear friend, all losses are restored and sorrows end. dx

Rest easy John. You made a great contribution to broadcasting, writing, theatre and the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, where your autobiographical stories inspired, informed and entertained. Your positivity and stories will be greatly missed by many. May you rest easy after an eloquent life, which enriched your many Irish friends. A sad day for the arts and all who mourn you. RIP