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St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations Sweep Across the U.S.

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55 seconds ago

March 18, 2023

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Irish Bagpipes Calls in the Concrete Glens of New York City

Oh, Danny boy, ‘tis the time of year when Irish bagpipes are calling in the concrete glens of New York City, across the swooning boughs of Savannah, Georgia, and in the halls of the White House as the U.S. celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with parades, pub crawls and a state visit.

Savannah Hosts the South’s Largest Parade Tradition

Thousands of tourists and locals alike crowded the oak-shaded squares and downtown sidewalks of Savannah on Friday. The city’s parade, a 199-year-old tradition, is the South’s largest.

NYC Parade Celebrates the World’s Largest and Oldest St. Patrick’s Day Event

The annual parade in New York City — which bills itself as the world’s largest and oldest — drew throngs to Fifth Avenue to await bagpipes and bands, and give homage to Ireland’s patron saint.

Celebrating Irish Heritage in New York City

“When we march up Fifth Avenue,” New York Mayor Eric Adams said during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast Reception, “it appears as though everything turns to green.” Irish immigrants have a deep history in helping New York City become what it is today, one of the many groups, the mayor said, “that make up our city and that makes us great.” Kevin Conway, the parade’s grand marshal, led the way.

Remaining Celebrations Across the U.S.

Some cities including Chicago, which dyes its river green to commemorate a day when everyone pretends to be Irish, already held their parades last weekend. Other cities, including Boston, will hold parades and other festivities this weekend.

White House Celebrations

Also flowing green will be the fountain on the South Lawn of the White House as President Joe Biden, who often speaks of his Irish heritage, welcomes Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.for a longstanding meetup between the two heads of state that had been delayed two years by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Savannah Celebrates with 2-Year Hiatus Over

With temperatures forecast to climb into the mid-70s in Savannah, many parade watchers wore shorts with green T-shirts and strands of green plastic beads. Friday marked just the second parade in Savannah since the coronavirus pandemic forced city officials to pause the celebration in 2020 and 2021. Even last year’s comeback parade seemed subdued, with plenty of elbow room along the typically packed parade route.

Celebrating Irish Heritage in Georgia

Started in 1824 by Irish immigrants to Georgia’s oldest city, the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Savannah has ballooned into one of the South’s largest street parties after Mardi Gras. Sheila Barry, a Savannah native, wore a wide felt sash of emerald green embroidered with the names of her late parents, Irish immigrants who came to Savannah more than five decades ago. She said they loved Savannah’s Irish traditions and celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.

Biden Hosts Prime Minister for St. Patrick’s Day Meetup

President Joe Biden is set to host Ireland’s prime minister on Friday, after the COVID-19 pandemic scuttled the longstanding St. Patrick’s Day meetup two years in a row.