Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's

Subject: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: InOBU
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 08:49 PM

Well, after not being able to write for a while ... been a bit fed up... I returned to building boats, only to fall victim to a despicable fellow, a violent thug who just put me off dealing with people again, gave up the boats, stopped playing music (the thug owns a music pub, and is typical of the plastic paddies one meets in Irish pubs, must say... ) Well, I was asked to play at a few fundraisers for my wife's church, a beautiful famine era church with quite a history, being torn down so the church can sell the land ... so the other morning I woke up with this song finished in my head, for St. Brigid's Church on New York's lower east side.



St Brigid's        

Last night I had a visit, a dream I think but true
And if you spare a moment, I'll share that dream with you.
An Irish shipwright's son took me, to see his father's pride
The famine church, Saint Brigid's on New York's lower east side.

He put my hand upon a stone, that stone is mine he said
I placed it here, so long ago, he said lifting his head,
My father placed this heavy stone between my little hands
Then helped me to lift it to the wall where it now stands.

I watched my father work each day, to make those stone walls climb
Two spires reaching for the clouds, which sailed on deep blue skies
Each stone he placed, he said a prayer, for lost ones left behind
This church to stand their faith to prove, until the end of time.

He pointed to a bearded face, high on the wall of stone
That was me Da, he said to me, here in my dear faith's home.
It seemed to me he's watching us, as generations pray
To remind us of his loving toil, so long ago today.

He sailed away from Kerry's shores, leaving family behind
To try and make a better way, to start an up hill climb
But as he built a new life here, each hard and pain filled day
Those distant hills of Kerry seemed to slip farther away.

Then news reached us, of wretched times, back in his native land.
Millions of Ireland's people starved, with food so near at hand.
Out from each Irish seaport town, the starving sought to flee
While landlords loaded food to sell abroad for a ripe fee.

Sick starving, bodies broken, our families reached this shore
My father and our neighbors helped their future to restore
And raised these walls to thank our God and mark forever more
The place of their deliverance, here on this hope filled shore.

I woke up in the morning, and I still could see his pride
Reflected in his beaming face, across time's constant tide
I wondered how in these soulless times, these wall can be torn down
Those stone church walls his father built, to sell this sacred ground.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: Peace
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 09:01 PM

For someone who's been gone for far too long, you sure know how to make an entrance. That is a fine piece of writing--effective protest from a guy with a wonderful heart. Good one, Lor. Welcome back.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: InOBU
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 09:05 PM

Thanks peace!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: Peace
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 09:14 PM

St Brigid's Church

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: mg
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 09:27 PM

Beautiful. I have never heard the expression famine church before. Could you explain more, although I think I get the gist. mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: Peace
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 09:38 PM

"When two million Irish immigrants fled to America to escape a famine that would kill one million, some settled in New York City, where, in 1848, they built a small church—an act of independence, since Catholics were not allowed to build churches in Ireland.

Known as the "Famine Church," St. Brigid's, designed by Irish architect Patrick Charles Keely, has been closed for four years, and neighbors fear that the Archdiocese of New York, which owns the church and doesn't want to sell it, will raze it soon. The last Mass was held in an adjacent school's basement last September."

from

http://www.nationaltrust.org/Magazine/archives/arc_news_2005/062005.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: alanabit
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 03:54 AM

I have been wondering where you are Larry. Good song and good to see you back here. You always come up with great stories.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: InOBU
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 06:46 AM

Thanks Pace! Hello Alan! There is more to it, it was a rather progressive congrigation, had a history of radical priests, and radicalized some who were sent there, but more than that, it is part of a programatic destruction of neighborhood churches by the New York archdiocis, which makes the French Revolutions destruction of churches seem less cold hearted some how... this is being done for cold cash. ah well...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 11:59 AM

How sad....and thanks, Lorcan! Good to see you back!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: Lady Hillary
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 05:51 PM

Nice job, old friend. Lady Hillary and EBarnacle

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: Peace
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 05:57 PM

Lor,

Realistically, is there any chance to save the church?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: Den
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 05:59 PM

Well done Larry. Good to have you back.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: InOBU
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 07:55 AM

Realisticlly? Well, as Lehr said about the Spanish Civil War, they might have won all the battles ... but we had all the good songs... we'll see - we are up against money in America, so, what chance is there? Hi Barnical and Hillery!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: Felipa
Date: 31 Jan 22 - 08:55 PM

what is the tune? Did Lorcan compose a new tune, or set the song to an existent air? Is there a recording available?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: Felipa
Date: 31 Jan 22 - 09:04 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJPnEbyxecc
Jan 2013 video "Renovated St. Brigid's Opens for First Mass"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: New InOBU song St. Brigid's
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Feb 22 - 02:41 AM

It’s a real miracle on Avenue B as St. Brigid’s Church reopens   After a 10-year community struggle to save St. Brigid’s Church from demolition, followed by a four-year-plus, $15 million renovation to shore up the historic structure and return it to its former splendor, the iconic Avenue B house of worship at last reopened on Sunday. The opening was celebrated with a joyful dedication Mass presided over by Archbishop Timothy Dolan.

To the chagrin of members of the Committee to Save St. Brigid’s, though, which fought and filed a lawsuit to keep the church standing, Dolan was joined in the celebration by former Archbishop Edward Egan. The latter had actually started demolishing St. Brigid’s before relenting in May 2008 and agreeing to accept a $20 million gift from an anonymous “angel” to fund the renovations, the parish and St. Brigid’s School ...

And now, a lot of photos of St. Brigid's comment - Unfortunately what you don't see here is the destruction done when they basically gutted the interior of the church proper. At least the block has not been converted into condos. Senseless devastation led to this restoration. Proof that the Archdiocese is no brain trust.