From Hollywood to law and literature – Aire’s glittering rallies to block the proposed $ 52 million sale of the historic Fifth Avenue mansion housing American Irish Historical Society.
Opponents fear loot from the sale of the Guild Age property, known for hosting large parties celebrating Irish-American heritage, will be spent at a less prestigious address on a new new home.
89-year-old Malachie McCourt, an Irish-American writer and actor from New York, said, “I am absolutely shocked and shocked that they will be in the US with some beautiful monuments of their kind in their Irish heritage.” . “We cannot allow this to happen.”
A parade of other big Irish and Irish-American names, among them actor Liam Neeson, joined forces with McCourt – brother of the late Frank McCourt, who accepted Pulitzer Prize winner “Angela’s ashes” – state Attorney General Letitia James The property has been owned by the nonprofit since 1940, to prevent the sale of property from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Neeson, whose latest flick, the thriller “The Markman”, is in theaters – he gets furious when he learns of the plan.
“We believe that, like St. Patrick’s Cathedral and St. Patrick’s Day Parade, this architectural jewel is a living moment of the struggle and success of our immigrant ancestors,” James said in a petition signed by Neeson, McCourt and 44 others, Writer Alice McDermott, Colum McCann, Pulitzer-winning poet Paul Muldoon and lawyer Brian O’Dwyer, son of the late City Council President Paul O. Dwyer. The petition stated that the sale would be “a tragic mistake that can never be overturned once it is done.”
Opponents of the sale believe that the Attorney General’s Charity Bureau and the state Supreme Court may have to ask for the sale of the building to be approved or nixed because it is owned by a nonprofit. Nor responded to requests for comment.
The society said in a press release, “AIHS is a cultural and scholarly organization dedicated to better knowing the history of Irish in the United States as well as celebrating the rich of Irish culture.” “It has been decided to place the building on the market to enable the society to pursue its cultural and scholarly mission permanently.”
But a former leader of the society cries of poverty.
“Shea said you could run it for $ 500,000 per year instead of the current $ 1 million or so outlay,” James Sheeh Normile, a past president-general, told the post he dropped out of in August 2019 Gone, a fortune endowed with other reform-minded members and employees of the society.
“No one [at the society] It wants to say what it wants to do with the money, ”said Normille, a partner at the Katten law firm, who worries about the money from the sale may be ill. “You can’t let these people have $ 52 million. Come on, it would be a crime. “
Active since 1897, the historical society has honored VIPs such as U2’s Bono, writer Mary Higgins Clarke, and former Sen. George Michel, who embarked on peace in Northern Ireland through the Good Friday Agreement. It lists President Theodore Roosevelt and noted member John McCormack as former members.
The Beaux Arts Revival Mansion is also known for its large contingent of Irish-American literature and historical artifacts, including the first printing of the Bible in the Irish language.
“Frank and I loved the building’s library,” said Brooklyn-born McCourt. He said, “There are no words to describe the value of books, first editions, old newspapers, and recordings.” “These are dates in an era when no Irish requirement was in force was a general sign, and we had our own Irish expedition.”
The Irish government said a sale would be a tragedy.
Paula del Nunzio, Handling Five-story property listing For Brown Harris Stevens, “The Holy Grail is on Fifth Avenue.”
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