St. Patrick’s Day Parade, NYC, a Visual History
The New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade is one of New York City’s greatest and most anticipated traditions. The first parade was held on March 17, 1762, fourteen years before the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. This year will mark the 260th St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City.
Bagpipers play and march in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, NY. Credit, manhattan.edu.
Horses and riders march past St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, NY. Credit, ny.curbed.com.
The first NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade was comprised of a band of homesick, Irish ex-patriots and Irish military members serving with the British Army stationed in the colonies in New York. This was a time when the wearing of green was a sign of Irish pride but was banned in Ireland. In that 1762 parade, participants reveled in the freedom to speak Irish, wear green, sing Irish songs and play the pipes to Irish tunes that were meaningful to the Irish immigrants of that time.
Union Square, NY. St. Patrick’s Day parade, 1874. Credit, nydailynews.com
Marching up Fifth Ave., NY, 1909. Credit, nydailynews.com
The Archbishop watching the parade from St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 1924. Credit, nydailynews.com
Mayor James Walker tips his top hat to the crowd, 1932. Credit, nydailynews.com
St. Patrick’s Day parade spectators, 1945. Credit, nydailynews.com
NYC firemen march up Fifth Avenue, 1947. It was estimated that one million people came to see the parade. Credit, nydailynews.com
Two young gentlemen march in traditional Irish kilts with their Da, 1951. Credit, nydailynews.com
One year old Johnny Medrow has the best view of the St. Patrick’s Day parade, 1954. Credit, nydailynews.com
Two women chosen to march in the procession, 1957. Credit, nydailynews.com
St. Patrick’s Cathedral with a packed Fifth Ave., 1958. Credit, nydailynews.com
“Kiss Me I’m Irish.” 1964. Credit, nydailynews.com
Grace Mary Smith from Cardinal Dougherty H.S. leads the way. 1965. Credit, nydailynews.com
Jackie Kennedy on tiptoe watching the St. Patrick’s Day parade, 1966. Credit, nydailynews.com
Adorable eight year old Bridget Megan marched in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1982. Credit, nydailynews.com
Everyone’s Irish on St. Paddy’s Day. Credit, blog.headout.com.
In contemporary times the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade marches up 5th Avenue and is reviewed from the steps of St. Patrick’s by His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York. Since it began, this tradition of marching past St. Patrick’s Cathedral has remained unchanged with the exception of the address.
Now, in this time of pandemic, the parade has been paired down to the barest minimum, but continue it will, because after 260 years, New Yorkers will keep this tradition alive. We can be sure of one thing; next year, on March 17, 2022, there will be one enormous party going on in the streets of New York. We hope you can join us.
