Farrell studied and played ice hockey at St. Mary's College from 1895 until 1896. While there, he met future Shamrocks' players Harry Trihey, Fred Scanlan and Jack Brannen. In 1897, the four joined the Montreal Shamrocks. Farrell, along with Trihey, Scanlan and Brannen would form an impressive offensive line for the Shamrocks.

He wrote the first ever book on ice hockey, Hockey: Canada's Royal Winter Game, published in 1899 and of which only four remaining copies are known to exist in the world. He went on to write two "how-to" books on hockey: Ice hockey and ice polo guide of 1901-1904 and How to play Ice Hockey, published in 1907.

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