The co-founder of one of Ireland’s most successful architectural practices, Paul Burke-Kennedy died at his home in Booterstown Co. Dublin on 28 September 2023. Born in Tullamore in 1935, Paul’s father Gerry Burke-Kennedy was the popular manager of the Hibernian Bank (now part of Bank of Ireland) in the 1950s, well known for his hunting, horse racing and golfing enthusiasms and who, in later years, raised his family in the apartment above the bank premises on Bridge Street, Tullamore.
Paul studied architecture in University College Dublin and soon after graduation together with Joseph Kidney formed the practice Kidney Burke Kennedy which was later joined by Des Doyle. Paul’s designs were rooted in his awareness and respect for urban context and contemporary Scandinavian design. The firm became notable from the 1960s onward for its innovative housing development in Dublin’s Ringsend, the impressive first stage of the Dublin Docklands development together with hotels for the Jury’s Group and the Conrad and many office developments including the Harcourt Centre and Earlsfort Centre and the Tallaght Town Centre.
Paul also carried out work in his hometown and in 1961 designed a striking shopfront on High Street for P&H Egan which was the first post war building in Tullamore in a modern style. Its simple form and use of concrete bricks as a finish together with the contrast between the horizontal fascia and its modern lettering with the vertical panel of projecting bricks was very Scandinavian in character. However, the facade was demolished in the early 2000s.
His 1967 head office for Irish Mist on Bury Quay is another fine example of his skill in the use of brickwork and his 1997 design of the Tullamore Court Hotel for John Flanagan set a new standard for the hospitality industry in the Midlands.
The firm which he founded is today known as BKD and is still amongst the leaders of the Irish architectural world as their recently opened offices on Grand Canal Dock testify.
Personally an exceptionally charming and empathetic man with many interests outside his profession, Paul was predeceased by his brother the well-known dramatist and journalist Declan, and by his wife Moninne (née Quinn). He is survived by his sister Helen and by his children Catherine a barrister, Gerry a property developer, Eoin the economics correspondent of the Irish Times and Neil also an architect.
On a lighter note to finish it was said that Paul’s father, Gerry Burke Kennedy, was fond of hunting with the Westmeath Harriers and on one occasion when an official from head office called to Bridge Street unannounced he was advised that Mr Burke Kennedy was not available to meet him having gone to the funeral of a Mr Fox in Kilbeggan
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