Irish Pride Shines at 263rd New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Irish pride was in full swing at the 263rd New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade as crowds gathered along Fifth Avenue awaiting the festive event.

Among the attendees was Patty O’Shea from Erie, Pennsylvania, who traveled over 400 miles adorned in a coat covered in celebratory pins. Stephanie Harley journeyed over 1,000 miles from Mississippi, accompanied by friends from Florida and Alabama, all donning Irish-themed attire.

Victoria Daconto from the Long Island town of Brookhaven expressed her enthusiasm, blending her Italian heritage with Irish spirit as part of the day’s colorful celebrations.

The parade, a longstanding tradition dating back to the 1700s in New York City, saw an estimated 2 million participants showcasing their Irish pride under the sunny Manhattan skies.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the city’s first Irish-American governor in four decades, joined the festivities, lauding the day as a spectacular showcase of Irish culture up Fifth Avenue.

For Gabriel Aguirre from Chihuahua, Mexico, it was a captivating first experience in New York, marveling at the Irish community’s vibrant presence in the city.

St. Patrick's Cathedral hosted its annual Mass, attracting religious leaders from around the world, including Jim Fanucane, the mayor of Kerry County, Ireland, who emphasized the strong bond between the Irish and American communities.