- Mediator
- Accrediting Body: The Mediators Institute of Ireland (MII)
- Circuits:
Dublin
Eastern- Other Memberships:
- Employment Bar Association
Sports Law Bar Association - Other Languages:
- French (Working)
German (Working)
Irish (Fluent) - Direct Professional Access:
- Provided
Biography
My work focuses principally on general civil litigation. I represent both plaintiffs and defendants before all Courts.
Civil Law: I have a busy personal injuries practice, both High Court and Circuit and I work on the Eastern circuit practice representing clients in employment law; probate and family law.
Child Law/Adoption: A large portion of my work involves child law, primarily High Court adoption applications.
Mediation/ADR: I am an accredited mediator and with my interest in Sports Law, I have am regularly instructed as mediator in Sports law disputes. I am on the panel of Arbitrators for Sports Disputes Solutions Ireland.
Personal: I have a personal interest in Sports Law, as much of my free time is taken up with the administration of local and national sporting issues.
Recent Cases & Legal Work
I act for the Child and Family Agency in a range of High Court adoption applications.
I act as Counsel for the South East Commission (formerly Hickson Commission), a Commission of Inquiry, established pursuant to statute.
Examples of some of my recent cases include:
| In the matter of C. (a minor) | Jordan J. | 2023 IEHC 439 |
| In the matter of Master D | Barrett J. | 2022 IEHC 304 |
| In the matter of Child X | Barrett J. | 2022 IEHC 269 |
| In the matter of T.S. (a minor) | Jordan J. | 2021 IEHC 53 |
| In the matter of M.L. (a minor) | Jordan J. | 2020 IEHC 419 |
| A Foster mother v CFA | Simons J. | 2019 IEHC 8 |
| O’Doherty v Callinan | Ní Raifeartaigh J. (CofA) | 2020 IECA 200 |
| O’Doherty v Callinan | Reynolds J. | 2018 IEHC 14 |
| In the matter of T. (a minor) | Jordan J. | 2019 IEHC 312 |
| O’Connor v HSE and others | Reynolds J. | 2019 IEHC 930 |
| In the matter of D.W. (a minor) | Abbott J. | 2015 IEHC 563 |
| DeCataldo v Petrogas Ltd. | O’Neill J. | 2012 IEHC 495 |
| Coffey v Tara Mines | O’Neill J. | 2007 IEHC 249 |
| Galazka v MPER | O’Connor J. | 2024] IEHC 266 |
Leinster Hearings Committee, Gaelic Athletic Association – 2024
Disciplinary committee Member of the Leinster Hearings Committee of the GAA.
Central Hearings Committee, Gaelic Athletic Association – 2021-2024
Disciplinary committee Member of the Central Hearings Committee of the GAA.
Disciplinary hearings for national competitions within the GAA.
Sports Dispute Solutions Ireland (SDSI) – Member of the Panel of Arbitrators Dispute resolution service for Irish Sport offering mediation and arbitration facility. Regularly engaged in world sport dispute resolution.
Appointed to the panel of arbitrators in January 2020 to hear and determine disputes arising in sporting codes.
Disputes Resolution Authority 2007 – 2021
The DRA is an independent body charged with the implementation of the disputes resolution code within the GAA. The Authority maintains a panel of arbitrators from which it establishes arbitration tribunals to deal with disputes referred to it. I was a member of the arbitration panel from 2007 until my appointment to Central Hearings in 2021. During that time, I acted as Chair of many high profile disputes, with written published decisions of precedential value within the GAA.
Publications
Bar Review December 2023,
Consult on Complaints with Peter Stafford BL
Bar Review October 2023 and Bar of Ireland Podcast
Mediating Personal Injuries Disputes with Cathy Smith SC
The Fifth Court Podcast Series
Sports Arbitration with Susan Ahern BL December 2023
Sports Law Bar Association
Speaker on Disciplinary Fairness – Annual Conference November 2023
Review of Law Reform Commission Consultation Paper on Clubs and Societies March 2023
Winner Alright – review of Heads of Gambling Bill, November 2021
Insurance Institute of Ireland Covid 19 Impact on Claims July 2020
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Introduction to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion April 2023
Meath Solicitors Bar Association – General Data Protection Regulation 2018
Pro-bono & Voluntary
Member of the Council of the Bar of Ireland 2020-2023, Chair of Equality & Resilience Committee 2022/2023.
Chair of Sports Law Bar Association 2024
Member of the Education Committee of the Honorable Society of Kings Inns.
Member of the Exams Board Committee of the Honourable Society of Kings Inns
Member of the European Circuit
Member of Leinster Hearings Committee, Gaelic Athletic Association.
Executive Member of Trim GAA, Insurance Officer.
Additional Information
The world of arbitration in sport. Fantastic insight into the similarities and the differences between how the rules and regulations of different sporting codes are applied, both in Ireland and across the globe. Sports arbitration barristers Aoife Farrelly who has a major involvement with the GAA (and tug-of-war!) is joined by barrister Susan Ahern who has worked with World Rugby at the highest levels, as they explain penalties and processes to our hosts, Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL.
Mediating Personal Injuries Disputes | Cathy Smith SC & Aoife Farrelly BL
What role does mediation play in the resolution personal injuries disputes, and how doe lawyers play a part in this process?
In this episode, Cathy Smith SC & Aoife Farrelly BL speak about the topic of personal injuries mediation, it’s advantages, and recent developments in the area.
Aspiring Lawyers Talk Inclusivity at the Bar | Black History Month
Contact Form
Contact
- Mobile
- 086-364 5579
- afarrelly@lawlibrary.ie
- Address
- The Law Library Four Courts Dublin 7
- DX
- 813142
- @Aoife Farrelly