There may always be an Ireland, and beyond that lovely prospect, always hundreds of parades around the world to celebrate on March 17th.
     This year on Saturday March 16, from 11:00 a.m. until about 3:00 p.m. on an island called Manhattan, a green stripe runs down the middle of Fifth Avenue from 44th to 86th Street for The St. Patrick’s Day Parade, one of New York City’s greatest traditions.
     On St. Patrick’s Day a kind of wonderful delirium takes over Gotham.
     Everyone is Irish!
     The annual procession marches up Fifth Avenue, past St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 50th Street, all the way up past the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 83rd Street.
     New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade began before there was even a United States of America; the first march in Manhattan was held on March 17, 1762, when Irishmen from Ireland’s Revolutionary War brought the tradition here.
     Military units continued to march each year until after the War of 1812, when local Irish fraternal and beneficial societies began sponsoring the event.
     In those days, the parade was quite small, marching from local Irish meeting halls to Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Lower Manhattan on Mott & Prince Streets.
     By 1851, the groups had banded together, nominating a Grand Marshall and increasing the size of the parade.
     This was when the Irish 69th Regiment (now the 165th Infantry) became the lead marchers, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians became the official sponsor.
     We love St. Patrick’s Day.
     It’s when the “Irishrey” of New York come out in full celebration. Look into the faces of the uniformed services, especially the NYC Firefighters, and you will understand it immediately.
     We also like that St. Patrick’s Day Parade remains true to its roots by not allowing floats, automobiles and other commercial overkill.
     Marching, great bands, and bagpipes fill the air as people from all over the country and the world celebrate in New York.
     HAPPY SAINT PATRICKS DAY 2024!
Geoffrey