Sun and blue sky on St. Patrick’s Day in green

The luck of the Irish included the weather as the 262nd St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicked off on Friday under sunny skies over Fifth Avenue.

To the sound of howling trumpets and thundering drums, Midtown demonstrators headed downtown for the annual celebration of the Emerald Isle and its New York descendants, as well as a few out-of-towners.

“I always wanted to be in the parade,” said Elizabeth Becker, 41, from Las Vegas, who arrived with her husband and daughter. “My dad is from New York.”

Bands perform as they march down Fifth Avenue at the 2023 St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17, 2023 in New York City.  (Photo by Andrew Schwartz)

The family was on vacation during school spring break when they realized it was time to drop in for the first time. Becker was suitably dressed in green.

“I’m Scottish-Irish, so I have a lot of green jackets,” she explained.

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams helped carry the council’s banner along the route on a pleasant day with temperatures in the mid-50s. Mayor Adams marched with FDNY head Laura Cavanaugh and other FDNY bigwigs, with the group stopping to greet Cardinal Timothy Dolan outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Dressed in green and festive attire, parade participants gather to watch the annual 2023 St. Patrick's Day parade on March 17, 2023 in New York City.  (Photo by Andrew Schwartz)

The mayor, renaming himself “O’Adams” for the day, said he felt at home in the crowd.

“It’s a real worker’s community,” Adams said. “You know, our firefighters, our teachers, our policemen. I’m a working mayor.”

Members of the New York City Fire Department carry American flags as they march down Fifth Avenue at the 2023 St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17, 2023 in New York City.  (Photo by Andrew Schwartz)

Dolan said he had no problem with the mayor’s recent remarks about making the city a “place of God.”

“I’m glad he’s bringing that,” Dolan said. “We need more of this.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams participates in the 2023 St. Patrick's Day parade on March 17, 2023 in New York City.  (Photo by Andrew Schwartz)

Parade participant Julia Lewis stood with a group of friends wearing identical outfits: green tutus, knee-length shamrocks, glittery beads and green sequined bowler hats. The crew arrived around 10 p.m. Thursday after driving nearly 250 miles from upstate Auburn.

(LR) Caroline Dunn and Dennis Dunn of Yonkers, NY watch the annual 2023 St. Patrick's Day parade on March 17, 2023 in New York City.  Dennis has been in the parade for 25 years, face paint and all.  (Photo by Andrew Schwartz)

“Girl trip, let’s go!” Lewis, 35, said. “It was worth it. We thought everyone would be dressed like this.”

The march was attended by scattered groups from the San Francisco Police Department and the Randolph-Maron Academy in Virginia, including representatives from individual districts in Ireland.

Kevin J. Conway, Grand Marshal of the 2023 St. Patrick's Day Parade, marches down Fifth Avenue on March 17, 2023 in New York City.  (Photo by Andrew Schwartz)

“Happy St. Patrick’s Day!” bellowed a man marching with the County Roscommon contingent, drawing cheers and applause from the people lining the sidewalks.

Hochul, the first Irish governor in 40 years, said she was delighted to join the demonstrators.

“We have never seen such crowds,” she said. “This is one of the best ever. We’re back… that’s today’s message.”

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan greets New York Governor Kathy Hochul during the 2023 St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17, 2023 in New York City.  (Photo by Andrew Schwartz)

For Tina and Daniel Patrick Reilly, this was their second parade at St. Paddy’s in a week. The two traveled to New York for the weekend after attending a parade in Philadelphia the previous Sunday.

Why?

“The bagpipes, the fire department, the police,” Daniel, 51, said of his favorite parade spectacles.

Dressed in green and festive attire, parade participants gather to watch the annual 2023 St. Patrick's Day parade on March 17, 2023 in New York City.  (Photo by Andrew Schwartz)

Wrapped in an Irish wool sweater and slipper, Olivia Queenan, four months old, was perhaps the youngest participant in the day as she smiled into her father’s arms.

Traditional Irish tap dancers perform as they march down Fifth Avenue at the 2023 St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17, 2023 in New York City.  (Photo by Andrew Schwartz)

Mom Fiona Henry, 23, from Yonkers, said the family of three planned to walk the entire parade route with the Sligo County Band.

“She’s a very happy child,” Henry said. “I was very lucky.”

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