An interview with Feargal Logan

An interview with Feargal Logan, Partner, Logan and Corry Solicitors and Joint Manager of the Tyrone GAA Team.

The Society is delighted that one of its members has enjoyed success as joint manager of the Tyrone GAA team who secured victory in the All-Ireland finals and are the proud holders of the Sam Maguire Cup. We interviewed Feargal and asked him to reflect on the success.

1. You’ve achieved the ultimate success as joint Tyrone manager - what is next for you?

Repeat the achievement! Much like in our profession, after one case is finished, you just have to move to the next one and keep going, so it really is a case of more of the same, hopefully.

2. What aspects of being a solicitor have you been able to use in your role as joint Tyrone manager?

Believe it or not, there is quite a bit of cross over and obviously communication skills are of the utmost importance. Time management is the biggest challenge in both fields – and a few alternative dispute resolution experiences can come in handy along the way.

3. What’s tougher the courtroom or the half time changing room?

Again, the Courtroom and the half time changing room have certain similarities and can both present tough challenges. You have to think on your feet; read your own situation and clients/players, then get ready to face the opposition, read them and most importantly, get ready to face the “people in the middle” Referees/ Judges who are the ultimate Arbiters in all matters!

Plenty to think about in short windows of time and the post-match analysis, with the benefit of hindsight, can make us all look like fools.

4. You’re a regular contributor to the

Society’s Sports Law Conference - how important is it in the CPD calendar?

The Sports Law Conference really is, for myself and a lot of others, one of the highlights of the CPD year. As we know, the law is everywhere in society and the intersection between the sporting world and the legal world is most interesting. The insight provided by the contributors to the Conference every year never ceases to amaze me. Anyone with

an interest in sport would enjoy the conference and find themselves fascinated with the interaction of the legal and sporting worlds. Retired Judge Nixon, Keith McGarry, Jennifer Ferguson, Susan Duffy and Patricia Kirk, deserve great credit for their work.

5. How has your professional and private life changed since winning the All-Ireland?

Winning the All-Ireland certainly puts one somewhat in a glare of publicity but I don’t think so and indeed hope that my life will continue much as before. I am blessed with a strong family, busy work life and a challenging sporting environment, all of which seems to work. In a sense, long may it continue!

6. When was last time you bought a pint?

Post All-Ireland, there is no requirement to pay for a pint in Tyrone! The difficulty is getting the time to enjoy one!

We are undoubtedly all, including our own profession, living in very challenging times.

Christmas is coming and I hope it provides a welcome break for everyone and we all get to enjoy a safe, restful and happy end to the year, in anticipation of a bright year ahead in 2022!