TDs in the Dublin South East constituency have written to the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland urging him to intervene to prevent the demolition of a 19th-century Presbyterian church in Sandymount.
The letter to the Moderator, the Right Rev Dr John Lockington, has been signed by the constituency's four TDs: Ms Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael), Mr John Gormley (Green Party), Mr Ruairi Quinn (Labour) and Mr Eoin Ryan (Fianna Fail).
Mr Gormley said yesterday the politicians may seek a direct meeting with Dr Lockington.
An Taisce has also written to the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, urging her to act to stop the demolition of the church, which dates from 1848.
Yesterday afternoon Ms Fitzgerald, Mr Gormley and Mr Ryan joined local people outside the church to underline their opposition to the decision of the Presbyterian Residential Trust to proceed with the demolition of the church to make way for a £1.5 million housing development for the elderly and some apartments.
Mr Gormley said: "We are extremely angry with the decision to go ahead with the demolition. It's unbelievable that such a significant landmark can be destroyed."
Candlelight vigils will be held at the church every night this week and a public meeting has been organised outside the building for 3 p.m. on Saturday. A petition against demolition has been signed by 4,000 people.
