Irish Echo

The defenders of threatened St. Brigid's Church in Manhattan are looking to the Irish government to play the role of the cavalry. And they have written to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern seeking his intervention in what has turned into a drawn out and emotive argument over the fate of the Famine-era immigrant church. St. Brigid's was one of a number of churches marked for closure by the Archdiocese of New York. And though demolitions crews began their work last summer, the church, located on Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, is still standing. The letter seeking help from across the Atlantic was not only sent to the taoiseach. Copies have been sent to more than 30 politicians in Ireland, including all the leaders of the other five parties in the Dail.