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If you’re in New York City on March 17, don’t miss the festivities of St. Patrick’s Day, the patron saint of Ireland! A grand parade will depart at 11 a.m. from the corner of Fifth Avenue and 44th Street and the Empire State building will be illuminated in green. Here’s what to expect for St. Patrick’s Day in New York.
But why is New York celebrating an Irish saint with great pomp? The reason is simple: New York is now home to the largest community of Irish Americans in the United States. At the end of the 19th century, when Ireland was hit by a great famine, nearly 2 million Irish embarked for the New World and set down their suitcases in New York.
The Irish at the New York Fire Department
fire department
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fire department
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And the immigrants integrated quickly. Many Irish people went on to become firefighters and police officers, tough jobs few wanted to do at the time. A vocation that was then passed on from father to son, even today: you will meet many firefighters with an Irish-sounding name. Something to know: of the 343 firefighters and paramedics who died during rescue operations following the attacks of September 11, 2001, 40% were of Irish origin.
The Irish were also very involved in politics, like the Kennedy family in the 1960s, in the media and in the church. In New York, you absolutely must visit Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. We couldn’t be more Irish!
Just a stone’s throw from the One World Trade Center tower, don’t miss the monument dedicated to the great Irish famine. A monument that will give you the impression of traversing the Irish plains …
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