World

Liam Neeson joins efforts to halt sale of a New York Irish landmark

Liam Neeson has lent his support to stop the sale of the American Irish Historical Society building on Fifth Avenue
Liam Neeson has lent his support to stop the sale of the American Irish Historical Society building on Fifth Avenue Liam Neeson has lent his support to stop the sale of the American Irish Historical Society building on Fifth Avenue

BALLYMENA-born actor Liam Neeson has joined efforts to halt the sale of a New York Irish landmark.

The Schindler's List and Taken star has lent his support to calls to stop the sale of the American Irish Historical Society building on Fifth Avenue.

He is among a number of prominent Irish Americans, including authors Colm Tóibín and Colum McCann, who have written to Letitia James, attorney general for New York, calling on her to intervene in the sale of the Manhattan landmark.

They say the sale of the society building, which was put up last month for $52 million (£38 million), "must be reconsidered".

"We believe that severing the society from its time-honoured location, which for over eight decades has hosted leading thinkers, writers and artists from Ireland and Irish America, is a tragic mistake that once made can never be reversed," the signatories wrote.

"We believe that, like St Patrick’s Cathedral and the St Patrick’s Day parade, this architectural jewel is a living monument to the struggle and success of our immigrant ancestors.

"We believe that the graceful elegance of 991 Fifth provides an unduplicatable environment for exploring and celebrating Irish and Irish American culture."

The society has received hundreds of thousands of euro from taxpayers in the Republic through the Emigrant Support Fund run by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has also called the proposed sale "deeply disappointing".