Cork referee James Regan honoured by call-up to national football referees' panel for 2026

James Regan has come a long way since moving down to Leeside from Mayo under a decade ago.

The referee has come on leaps and bounds and proof of his progress was underlined by his promotion recently to the inter-county national football referees' panel for the 2026 season.

The Lough Rovers clubman has refereed many important finals in Cork in years gone by, none more so than the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC final between Castlehaven and Nemo Rangers last year.

“It was great to get the recognition,” the Mayo native says on his elevation to the inter-county scene.

“At the end of the day, it’s only a title that has been given to me. It could well be taken away from me just as quickly. It’s brilliant though and fantastic for my club Lough Rovers. It’s a big deal for me.

“I was shocked enough to be honest. I know I was in the running but you just never know how these things work out. When I came down to Cork in 2017 I never thought I would be in this position. A Mayo man representing Cork next year will be an unusual one."

Despite the exciting new opportunity next year, Regan isn't getting carried away. 

“The bread and butter is the club scene, that will always remain the way,” he said.

“That’s why I have been handed this opportunity of moving up the ranks.

“I will probably be out more next year, probably more travelling and all that. There will be more training programmes and that too. We will see what they have planned and we will go from there.

“I will always be grateful to the people down here that helped me to be where I am today, the likes of Niall Barrett, Jim McEvoy and many others.” 

The Lough Rovers clubman is renowned for the way he conducts himself on the pitch as a referee, always engaging consecutively with the players. Communication is always crucial when you are the man in the middle.

“Look, the aim is always to try and talk to the players as much as you possibly can. Sometimes you have to try and figure out the character of the player and who you are dealing with. As a referee, you should try and talk to the players as much as possible.

“I don’t get everything right, I am human. You are always learning different things to try and deal with management teams, players, supporters and so on and so forth.” 

The new rules have been a game-changer for the game of football, so how has Regan found them in 2025?

“The new rules have made the game a better spectacle. Everyone is enjoying the game a lot more. There’s a lot more running involved, but the rules have been great. The discipline has improved and they have all worked in different ways.”