Denis Fitzpatrick:DENIS FITZPATRICK, who has died aged 65, was the barman to the Dublin legal set, earning a reputation for discretion, charm and exceptional kindness during his years of service to the profession.
Until his retirement last year, he ran the Sky Bar at the Law Library, Church Street, Dublin. Previously, he had managed the bar at the Four Courts, which occupied an area known as The Pitts, later to become equally famous as Denis's Bar. He was first employed by the Bar Council in 1994, having previously worked with Campbell Catering which held the catering contract in the various courts complexes.
A tall commanding presence at parties, which he often organised from scratch for his legal customers, Denis always dressed in black tie and appeared to know everyone's name and what they drank. The latter skill seemed like genius to those whom he had just met, but in fact it was an art he had perfected, involving differently sliced lemons as identifiers.
In a legendarily hospitable set, Denis was often the key to success, welcoming newcomers and making them feel part of an inner circle, directing a small army of bar boys, and dealing with unforeseen hiccups.
Denis was unflappable and disasters were not allowed to happen. If the lights blew or the sink got blocked or red wine cascaded onto the carpet, it was always dealt with immediately and without fuss. He presided over christenings and Holy Communions, 18th birthday parties and 21st parties, dinner parties and drinks parties, all of which he seemed to enjoy as much, if not more so than the hosts.
He looked after the welfare of his customers - be they Supreme Court judges or young barristers - in all sorts of subtle ways, ensuring that they did not drink too much. He would make a great show of pouring that one last glass of wine to a guest, but in fact only give them a thimbleful.
At the Sky Bar, he had a secret kitty that was used to pay taxis to see his customers home. He was especially mindful of the growing number of women barristers, and would ensure that they left with an unsullied reputation.
His Jeeves-like qualities were a byword in legal circles where discretion is highly prized. His memoirs, had he written them, would have created a stir, but that would not have been his style. Instead, he was mindful of his customers' reputations and would not tolerate back-biting at his bar.
He often quietly asked high-earners to contribute to help the less fortunate and discreetly passed on the money. Everyone was expected to throw something towards whatever sweep Denis was putting on, whether for the Derby, the Grand National or the World Cup. In return he would cash their cheques, and even organise their dry-cleaning.
Born in Dublin and raised in Drimnagh, he was one of four children of John and Elizabeth Fitzpatrick. Catering was the family business. John worked for 37 years as a chef at the Dolphin Hotel in Temple Bar - now part of the Dublin courts - while Elizabeth cooked for private parties. His brother John is a barman with an equal reputation, being the Bench Steward at the King's Inn. Both Denis and his brother served as president of the Bartenders' Association.
Denis left school while still young and took up a job as a porter in the Gresham Hotel. Later he was a page boy in the Central Hotel before taking a job with the courts in 1976. His larger than life personality matched that of some of his best customers, and he was considered "one of them".
He loved his work, particularly the private party circuit, but was passionate about his family and his home in The Naul which he enjoyed renovating.
In his eulogy to his father, his son Richard described Denis as a man with so many friends, they could hardly be counted. His father, he said, was constantly being invited to weddings, because he was such good company. He described him as the general of the family. "He was the lawmaker, the banker, the fixer. Dad was the chef and the barman . . . the comedian and the poet . . . but most of all he was our rock."
Denis was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, and retired the following year, though he continued to work at the Sky Bar. He is survived by Linda, his wife of 42 years, and by their children, Sandra, Richard, Denise, Louise and John.
Denis Fitzpatrick, born October 16th, 1944; died November 5th, 2009