The Fight to Save St. Brigid's Is Not Over

The fight to save St. Brigid's Church on the Lower East Side of Manhattan continues with a fundraiser tonight, August 18th at Solas, 232 East 9th Street, New York, between Second and Third Avenues. This will be a session to update the public on what has happened, as well as an attempt to raise money for the legal defense fund. The gathering is from 6-10 and the suggested donation is $20. Local artists have donated work to be sold, and there will be readings and song.

The temporary restraining order issued on July 28th was too late to save the stained glass windows of the Famine Church, built in 1848, from destruction; A. Russo Wrecking, Inc. of Lawrence, Long Island began to demolish them at 7 a.m., hours before the noontime court hearing. The church, built by Patrick Charles Keely of County Kilkenny, Ireland in 1848, who designed over 600 churches between his arrival in the United States in 1842 and his death in 1896, was granted a stay by a judge, but not before "the day of broken glass."

Also, the Committe to Save St. Brigid's wants to alert the community to the upcoming court date next Thursday, August 24th at 60 Centre Street, 2:15 p.m. A rally will take place at Foley Square at 1:30 pm. For details, contact Carolyn Ratcliffe at 212-674-4057 or info@savestbrigid.com. -- Patricia Jameson-Sammartano, WGT Culture Editor

http://www.savestbrigid.com/www/