New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade: How the crowds celebrated on Fifth Avenue

Even the Irish crossed the ocean to be in New York City on St. Patrick's Day Monday.

Betty Curran, 64, came from Ireland to watch the parade for the fourth time, joined by her friend Tom Johnson, a first-time attendee. 

"I think New York is the best place for the St. Patrick's Day parade. There's more going on here than in Dublin," Curran said. "We don't mind sharing St. Patrick's Day with New York."

Revelers dressed in green and draped in the Irish flag lined Fifth Avenue in Manhattan for one of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in the world. Organizers said the event has annually drawn about 2 million spectators with 150,000 participants. This year included several Irish Hibernian groups and marching bands from Long Island.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams led the parade after attending mass with Cardinal Timothy Dolan at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Gov. Kathy Hochul also marched in the parade with Attorney General Letitia James and Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris.

Harris said the celebration is for everyone with Irish heritage or who wished they were Irish.

"This means a lot. It's one of the most important St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the world," Harris said. "It shows the enduring relationship between our two people. New York City is one of the most Irish cities in America, if not the world."

Spectators didn't seem to mind the misty rain that lasted for most of the parade, reminiscent of gray skies over Ireland.

Pete Gale, a retired FDNY firefighter from Rockville Centre, took his grandson to the parade for the first time to support his fellow firefighters.

"It's a great parade. It always is, and, a little bit of rain won't stop us," Gale said. "We're here to have a good time."

Robert Majeska, 72, originally from Hicksville, came to watch the parade with his family from Key Largo. He said his family came to New York during the potato famine in the 1800s.

"It's a great way to honor all the police and firemen," Majeska said. "We came to remember our Irish heritage."

Long Island participants in the parade included the Nassau and Suffolk County Police Emerald Society’s pipe and drum band, the Eastport-South Manor Jr.-Sr. High School in Manorville and North Babylon High school marching bands, and the Suffolk County women’s Ancient Order of Hibernians.

"The kids love it. They get to play great music, the crowds love it, and it's great to be so close to the city to have the kids have this opportunity to perform," said Eastport-South Manor science teacher Todd Plymale.

North Babylon school board president Matthew Lucchetti marched along with the marching band as they played. He said it’s been a tradition for 20 years.

"Walking the streets of New York City with our marching band is just a great time," Lucchetti said. "It's a privilege to march the streets of Manhattan with our students."

Candidates in the New York City mayor's race were also there, including Adams, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, City Comptroller Brad Lander and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.

Absent was Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, the polling front-runner in the race for the Democratic nomination.

Hochul declined to weigh in on the race, while previously saying she wanted a mayor she could work with.

"I've got a state to run, in case you haven't noticed," Hochul told reporters as the parade started. "I've got to deal with Washington. I've got a budget. I will leave it up to the very smart voters of this great city to decide who they want me to work with as mayor."

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.