Dr Keating was born and raised in Cork City, educated at UCC and King’s Inns and was called to the Bar at the age of 21. Having practised for a few years in Cork, he later become a senior law lecturer in Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), now South-East Technological University (SETU).

He published extensively in the field of probate, succession and jurisprudence. The sixth edition of his seminal work Keating on Probate was published in 2019 and the fourth edition of his student text on Jurisprudence was published as recently as September 2022. He was awarded a D.Litt. for his published works in 2005.

In 2014, on a visit to Waterford, former Supreme Court judge Mary Laffoy described his publications on probate law as the authoritative works in the area and deserving of the status of classic law texts.

In addition to legal publishing, Dr Keating was also a published poet. Despite his research focus, Dr Keating is best remembered by his former students for his contract law lectures, many of which were enlivened with Shakespearean monologues, Latin grammar lessons and a Corkonian interpretation of the Greek tragedies.

Reflecting on Dr Keating’s 36-year tenure in academia, Dr Richard Hayes, vice-president for strategic planning and institutional reform at SETU, said: “Albert left an incredible legacy here at SETU.

“While renowned for his excellence in teaching and research, he also played a pivotal role in demanding equality of opportunity for law students in regional colleges. Despite early resistance, his persistent advocacy prevailed, and WIT became the first regional college to be granted authority to award honours degrees in legal studies and law.

“He also encouraged positive student activism and was part of the legal team which successfully represented students of WIT in Quinn & Ors v Waterford Corporation (1990).”

In remembering her former colleague and friend, Grainne Callanan, programme leader of the Bachelor of Laws in SETU, said: “Albert was more than just an intellectual giant. I shared an office with him for 26 years and he was a terrific mentor for young academics, universally popular with the student body and incredibly witty.

“One of my earliest memories was trying to persuade him in the early 90s to ditch his precious fountain pen in favour of a PC. It was a long drawn-out battle with limited success as his fountain pen always remained at the ready for his important thoughts of the day. He will be sadly missed by all his friends and colleagues here at SETU.”

Dr Keating was laid to rest beside his beloved late wife Ruth in Macroom, Co Cork. He is survived by his children Grattan, Sarah, Eddie, George and Serena and his eight grandchildren. Sit mitis anima requiescat in pace.