"Happy as Larry"
09-09-2008
Larry McArdle, perhaps better known as ‘Mr. Springfest', retired from teaching at the European School last April. After more farewell lunches than Frank Sinatra had comeback concerts, he is now safely ensconced at his home (signposted Springfest!) near Carlingford Lough in County Louth.
Larry was born in Belfast quite some time ago now, but he was brought up in Dublin's Fair City. St. Gerrard's School, Bray, helped turn him into the very model of a modern young gentleman - which has always stood him in good stead. He finished his formal education at UCD (University College, Dublin). After working as a teacher of philosophy in London, he left England for Japan in 1969, where he took up a post at the Berlitz Institute, Tokyo. His time there was very well spent (or so he kept telling us). Then, in 1973, the McArdle family upped stakes again and came to Belgium. He would go on to teach Human Science at the European School of Brussels (Uccle, Woluwe, and Ixelles).
It wasn't long before Larry took the Brussels expatriate Irish social scene by storm - and that could well be taken literally. He became a leading light of both the Irish Club of Belgium and their friends in the Northern Ireland Group. In fact, Larry was President of the ICB in the mid-1980s. He will be fondly remembered for being Quizmaster of the ICB Quiz League, especially for his revolving bow tie (I might have made the last bit up). Since 1979, he helped run the Footfest at the European School, and continued after it became Springfest in 1999. As a fluent Irish speaker, Larry took part in craic parties in the James Joyce pub, ably abetted by the likes of Malachi O'Rourke. He was never behind the door when it came to helping people.
We wish Larry well at the Carlingford English Language School and Adventure Centre (info@carlingfordadventure.com). Larry was a stalwart of the Irish Club Walking Group, and the hills of Meath will be his new tramping grounds. As he told Christopher Somerville of the Weekly Telegraph during a Cattle Raid of Cooley Walk: "It might not be history. But it ought to be true, don't you think?" The Hound of Ulster himself couldn't have put it better.
I'd like to end this tribute to Larry McArdle on a personal note. Larry's Salon, the brains trust that meets every Sunday afternoon at the Michael Collins hostelry on the Avenue Louise, will never seem the same again. "Don't be long till you're back."
Graham Andrews
