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March 25, 2022 • Schneps Media
TVG
BY DEAN MOSES
It wasn’t just Irish eyes
smiling on St. Patrick’s
Day as New Yorkers celebrated
one of the largest parades
to march in the streets
since the rise of COVID-19.
The St. Patrick’s Day
parade returned on March
17, drawing thousands of
spectators and marchers
alike, despite the inclement
weather which literally
rained on the parade.
Kicking off from 44th
Street and 5th Avenue,
Mayor Eric Adams and
Police Commissioner
Keechant Sewell led the
revelry with wide waves
and flapping Irish flags.
Striding forth, the two
served as frontrunners for
the sea of people ready to
follow in their footsteps.
Flanked on either side,
hundreds of New Yorkers
young and old decked
themselves out in green
and cheered on the parade.
Aleza, a 93-year-old
woman enthusiastically
waved from her wheelchair,
cheering on the
FDNY as they walked past
on 66th Street and Fifth
Avenue. One firefighter
left his ranks and placed
a green beaded necklace
with shamrocks as a token
of appreciation for
her support.
“I came out for the beautiful
parade because I love
watching the bagpipes and
marchers,” Aleza said.
Steve Costello beamed
with pride telling am-
NewYork Metro that his
father, Tom Costello, a
Chaplain of the Hewlett
Bay Fire Department had
the privilege to march
alongside the 2022 Grand
Marshal James T. Callahan,
the General President
of the International Union
of Operating Engineers.
“It’s a really special day
for our family. We are just
really proud of him and to
have the parade back in
New York and to see the
people out is fantastic,”
Steve Costello said, sharing
that he and his family
traveled from Long Island
to enjoy the festivities.
Holding up his six-yearold
daughter, Erin, and a
poster she created for the
celebration reading, “We
love you Grandpa,” Costello
says that it’s been a long
time since he’s seen New
York City streets filled with
so much love and joy.
PHOTOS BY DEANMOSES
Thousands attended the St. Patrick’s Day parade on
March 17 in Manhattan.
AROUND TOWN
Happy returns
St. Pat’s parade is back!
“The last couple of years
we really missed the parade.
It’s such a nice day
to celebrate the Irish heritage
and to see everybody
laughing and having a good
time. It’s refreshing to have
it back,” Costello said.
For many, the parade is
more than an opportunity
to commemorate Irish heritage,
it’s about celebrating
culture with their fellow
New Yorkers with music,
laughter, and bright
green colors.
Heidi Langdon is from
Yonkers and every year
she would travel down
to Fifth Avenue to attend
the St. Patrick’s Day parade
before the pandemic
hit. After two years of
cancellations, Langdon is
thrilled to be back wearing
her green Leprechaun
hat, Shamrock glasses, and
emerald beads.
“It’s great to be here! We
missed this for a long time.
It’s great, I like the bands.
I love FDNY,” Langdon
said, showcasing a green
FDNY t-shirt and adding
she comes from eight generations
of firefighters.