Attorney General James Commits to Thorough Review in the Event of the Sale of the American Irish Historical Society Building

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James released the following statement addressing the potential sale of the American Irish Historical Society building in Manhattan:  

“Like so many New Yorkers, I know the importance of honoring the spirit of our cultural institutions. The American Irish Historical Society building on Fifth Avenue has been a focal point of the Irish experience in America for decades, and I take the recent concerns regarding the future of the building seriously. We are vigilantly monitoring the situation, and I want to reassure Irish communities here and abroad that any potential transaction would not move forward without consent from my office or consent from the courts. Irish Americans are an integral part of the fabric of our nation, and we are better off because of their hard work, strength, compassion, and resilience. I firmly stand in support of the Irish-American community and this historic landmark, on St. Patrick’s Day and every day.”

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has not received a formal request from the American Irish Historical Society building regarding the sale of its building. The American Irish Historical Society is a nonprofit entity. Under state law, the sale of property by a nonprofit organization is contingent on approval by OAG or the New York State Supreme Court.