NEW YORK:FOR MORE than 200,000 New York marchers, St Patrick's Day began long before sun-up as kilts and dress uniforms were pressed, sashes sewn and, importantly, hearty breakfasts served.
At the Lexington Avenue Armory, the US Army National Guard’s Fighting 69th battalion tucked into plates of black pudding and soda bread to prepare for the task of leading the march along Fifth Avenue.
Ranger Seth Morgulas (38) of Manhattan, led the brigade’s biggest St Patrick’s Day contingent, which included an NYPD mounted unit, a bagpiper and four formations of troops in desert fatigues and black berets.
The fighting 69th have started New York’s legendary St Patrick’s Day parade since 1851 with their traditional battle cry of “Fág an bealach”.
This year’s march, the 248th to be held in New York, was in honour of the Sisters of Charity, the order founded 200 years ago by St Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first native-born American to be canonised by the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Edward Egan, who retires as archbishop of New York next month, said an invitation-only Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral before the parade began.
Tens of thousands of spectators from all over the world squeezed behind metal barricades along Fifth Avenue to watch the passing bands and marchers.
Ann Hughes, Co Mayo, with her daughter Mary and friend Anna O’Reilly, headed to the parade for the 11am start after attending Mass in Queens.
“The parade is great, we attend every year,” said Mrs Hughes, who moved to New York 32 years ago. “We had a priest visit our church from Co Dublin this morning, Fr Noel Moynihan,” Mrs O’Reilly added. “And he reminded us that we Irish love to celebrate today but we have forgotten the message of St Patrick which was one of forgiveness of our enemies.”
Back on Fifth Avenue, ranks of New York city firefighters marched beneath a sea of Stars and Stripes as brass bands and drummer brigades took over from the pipers.
But not everybody was celebrating. On 57th Street, a group of gay and lesbian organisations protested the ban on gay groups taking part in the official events. New York City council leader Christine Quinn, who is gay, boycotted the march.
The parade was scheduled to end about 5pm, after which the real fun was set to begin.
Kevin O’Lunney, whose family owns O’Lunney’s Irish Pub on 45th Street, said: “We open the doors at 9am and it’s crazy from the get go. For the Irish bar owners of New York, it’s the greatest night of the year.”