By Jessica Chin
The Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens hosted a St. Patrick’s Day parade this Sunday in Mineola, drawing hundreds who wanted to celebrate their Irish heritage.
A pipe band, the society’s president, Betty McLoughlin, and past marshals led the 67th annual march, which celebrates Irish-American culture and diversity.
“The diversity of our nation is what makes us great and to preserve every group’s culture and custom is an essential part of the American experience,” Donal Mahoney, a member of the Society and a 1993 parade marshal, said. “So today we march as Irish-Americans, but the real emphasis is that we’re Americans who are all joined and united.”
Many performers participate every year, such as the Lynbrook Glor na nGael pipe band. The 20-year old band has been marching in the parade since 2002 and showed up again this year despite the cold weather.
“A day like today, it was sort of like a badge of courage to show up today,” Tom Piderit, the band’s president. “The best part is when people are watching and they sort of cheer you on, that sort of inspires you. You’re playing to entertain them and when they respond that’s the best part.”
Spectators wearing green and shamrocks took photos and cheered the marchers on.
Yossi Oren, a resident of Hempstead, wore a big green hat, green sunglasses and shamrock necklaces.
“I do all the parades throughout the month of March,” Oren said. “Because it’s fun, it’s solidarity, and very colorful, very festive, we’ve been here a couple of times already and it’s great!
Tom Loose, Oren’s friend, was dressed in a nearly identical outfit other than a long orange-colored beard. Seeing the costumes is his favorite part of the annual parade, he said.
“You don’t get a better parade than this,” Loose said.
Many spectators attended the parade primarily because of a connection to their Irish ancestry.
“It’s part of my heritage, my upbringing,” said Raymond Gallagher, a Floral Park resident who was born in Ireland. He came to the parade with his wife and children.
One mother came to watch her daughter play in her school’s marching band, but also because of her Irish roots.
“My mother is one-quarter Irish, I am one-eighth Irish and my daughter over there with the cymbals is one-sixteenth Irish, so I’m here,” said Eisha Hall of Valley Stream. “It’s a celebration of culture, beautiful culture that I’m a part of, and I’ll be here next year, every year I’m going to come.”
The Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens will also participate in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17.
