David Keane:Because of the illness of David Keane over recent months, the architectural profession in Ireland and, indeed, the entire construction industry, had already experienced the loss of his incisive skills in appraising, advising on and, when required, determining complex issues in respect of construction-related disputes.
That loss is now permanent with his death at the age of 78.
So accustomed had the industry become to his role as an authority on construction law that the building fraternity sometimes lost sight of the fact that he was, and continued to be until his death, an exceptionally gifted architect.
Having graduated from the school of architecture at UCD in 1954, he spent a short time working in the office of Michael Scott, before joining the late Jack McCormack in McCormack Keane Architects. He subsequently founded David Keane & Partners, which later became Keane Murphy Duff and now practises as KMD Architecture, a practice with an impressive array of projects including the Ilac Centre, Blackrock Shopping Centre and the George's Quay development in Dublin.
However, if asked to choose his favourite project, it would almost certainly have been the Texaco headquarters building in Ballsbridge. He was intimately involved in the design of this building which, ironically, was demolished some years ago to make room for bigger things.
Keane joined the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) in 1955, was elected a fellow in 1980 and was elected its president for a two-year term in 1996 and 1997.
In that capacity, he strove to advance the cause of the registration of architects in Ireland, an objective that finally came to fruition with the passing of the Building Control Act 2007. This means the RIAI has become the registration body of the profession, and consumers are afforded a degree of protection from malpractice and unregistered "architects".
As a practising architect and council member and president of the RIAI, Keane was always motivated by a deeply-held conviction that the architect had a duty to put the client, and the interests of the client, before all else. It was this lack of self-interest and concern for the rights of clients which sparked his interest in building law and which led him to study the respective legal obligations and rights of the client, architect and builder.
Keane was called to the Bar in 1977, and effectively retired from KMD Architecture about 10 years later to pursue his interest in building law full-time. While he retained a position as consultant to KMD, and worked from the KMD offices, he practised under the style of "David Keane, arbitrator, architect and building dispute consultant".
Even though his services as an arbitrator, conciliator and expert witness in building disputes were hugely in demand, he still found time to write The RIAI Contracts - A Working Guide, first published in 1991 with revised editions in 1992, 1997 and 2001, and Building and the Law, first published in 1993 with revised editions in 1994, 1998 and 2003.
Keane served on the council of the Honourable Society of King's Inns and was a member of its library committee up to December 2006. He was also on the committee of the Irish branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and was chairman of the branch from 2000 to 2001.
As an arbitrator, Keane was talented at segregating the peripheral from the core issues and getting to the nub of the problem. He did not suffer fools gladly and any foolhardiness on the part of advocate or witness was likely to merit a sarcastic rebuke - always modified, however, by a smile.
He lectured frequently and wrote numerous articles on building law and arbitration. Shortly before his death, he was proofreading his contribution to a manual on construction law.
In all of this seeming maelstrom of activity, with self-assured calm, a winning smile and a sharp-witted sense of humour, he found time for home, family and friends and for his interests in literature, travel and music, not to mention golf which, when at the height of his prowess, he played off a near single-figure handicap.
He was a member of Portmarnock Golf Club of which he was honorary secretary for four years, captain in 1986 and later one of its trustees.
He found time, too, to listen to other people's problems and advise them. This was particularly the case with young colleagues.
He is survived by his wife Maureen, daughter Liz (Comyn), sons Andrew and Michael, son-in-law Roddy Comyn, two grandchildren, sister Eithne and brothers Max, Ronan and Brian.
David Keane: born September 22nd, 1929; died September 28th, 2007