Born in Lower Dublin Hill in Blackpool, a suburb of Cork, O’Farrell lived on Friars Road, in the Turners Cross area of the city. His grand-uncle was renowned bowls player John “Buck” McGrath. He was raised a Catholic and attended Christ the King. He played Gaelic football and captained the school team to its first trophy win in 1941
In 2018, he was recorded as the oldest living alumni of West Ham United, lived in Devon, and cared for his wife.
O’Farrell died on 6 March 2022, at the age of 94. No cause of death has been established, and the circumstances surrounding his death have not been published as of this writing. The public will be informed whenever the family provides details about the dead.