Uploaded February 2008 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Song by my friends corbi wright and kit krash, many heartfelt thanks. (see lyrics below)

There is an ongoing struggle to save this threatened church, see adjacent news stories.

The rich history of St. Brigid's begins in the 1840s, with the influx of Irish immigrants escaping the Great Famine. Many settled in the area then known as the Dry Dock District (now known as Alphabet City), and found employment at the East River Shipyards.

St. Brigid's second Pastor was Father Thomas J. Mooney, best remembered as the first chaplain of the Union Army's "Fighting Sixty-ninth" in the Civil War. Video images reflect this history mixed in with parishioners then and now.

Old St. Brigid (song)
by laydee libertee (corbi wright)
produced by kit krash
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Old St. Brigid, the Mary of Gael
got her spirit from thee irish
patrick keely thee architect fair
built her on thee olde dry docks

her corner stone is 18486
the shipwrights built her
strong enough to float
to heaven

old st. brigid
keep our lady strong
old st. brigid
keep our lady strong

Old St. Brigid stands like a mare
harboring the poor and weary
like a lighthouse
right on Tompkins Square
keeping watch over our park

One hundred fifty eight years is a lot
and let's keep our saint
with us til we cry
from heaven

old st. brigid
keep our lady strong
old st. brigid
keep our lady strong