‘Dear friend’ of Dingle food fest dies suddenly

THE Dingle-based ‘Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards’ has paid tribute to ‘one of its family’, Shane McArdle, who died suddenly at his home in Armagh on Monday, October 3, at the age of 41.

Shane was Invest NI’s head of business development for the food and beverage market in the Middle East and Asia, and had been heavily involved with ‘Blas na hÉireann’s Irish Food Awards’, which led to him becoming a familiar face around west Kerry.

The organisation’s chairperson Artie Clifford said they were ‘blessed to have met Shane as part of his role at Invest Northern Ireland’, and expressed devastation ‘at the death of our dear friend’.

Artie explained to The Kerryman that Shane had developed a great grá for Dingle and its surrounds over the years.

“Shane loved west Kerry, and he even took his annual leave to coincide with the recent Dingle food festival, allowing him to pay a visit”, Artie said.

“Before he left Dingle, the day before he passed away, he cycled Slea Head. He was big into cycling, and he loved to do Slea Head.”

Artie described Shane as a passionate GAA man, and he previously played football in his home county.

“A west Kerry contingent travelled up to attend his funeral in Armagh, where he would have been described as a ‘great Gael’ for his involvement with the GAA,” he said

“That passion was obvious when we were up to his funeral. He even had a picture of the Armagh team that won the All-Ireland final against Kerry in 2002 hanging up in the house.”

Shane had also served as an intern at the White House during the Clinton administration, which Artie said ‘he was extremely proud of ’.

Shane is survived by parents Eugene and Cecilia, girlfriend Lauren, and siblings Declan, Oonagh, and Christopher.

The late Shane McArdle, who died suddenly last week.