Mineola St. Patrick's Day Parade draws 1,469 participants in celebration of Irish heritage

The Mineola St. Patrick’s Day Parade made a grand entrance on Sunday, March 1, with two massive Irish and American flags suspended from cranes over Jericho Turnpike, creating a spectacle visible from a mile away.

According to preliminary numbers from marching units, the parade featured 1,469 participants, marking an increase from previous years. Mineola firefighters, government officials and residents joined the march down the village’s main thoroughfare as marching bands provided musical accompaniment throughout the celebration of Irish heritage and community unity.

“The parade is really a highlight of the year for community involvement and service. It’s a point of celebration,” said Donal Mahoney, this year’s master of ceremonies. “I’m very proud to be a part of it.”

Mahoney emphasized the parade’s role in bringing the community together, noting that this year attracted more marchers than in past years. “This brings us all together in a way that dispels some of the disagreements among people,” he said. “This brings a sense of community; people are all rowing in the same direction. That’s what this does.”

The celebration extended beyond the parade route, with the village’s Irish American Center at 297 Willis Ave. hosting a public party following the march. The event drew participants from across Long Island, according to organizers.

Joe McDonald, president of Nassau’s Ancient Order of Hibernians and former grand marshal of the Glen Cove parade, has been participating in Mineola’s parade since 2008. He praised the event’s organization and community impact.

“It’s like a well-oiled machine,” McDonald said. “This parade has been here forever. It’s great to see other parades popping up all over the place. Seeing everybody come together to embrace the community is great.”

Tom Scanlon, a parade aide and member of the Nassau County Irish American Society, highlighted the cultural significance of the gathering. “People here celebrate their culture, their religion, their traditions with food, music and dance,” Scanlon said. “I’m embracing the experience. I’m honored, and I’m looking forward to the next 30 days of March.”

The parade attracted longtime community members, including Pat O’Hanlan from County Cavan in Ireland, who now lives in Floral Park. O’Hanlan, who has been a member of the Irish American Society for 50 years, spoke highly of the Mineola celebration.

“It’s a great parade, one of the best. It’s the biggest parade in Long Island,” O’Hanlan said. “We have a great community here on Long Island, in the Irish American Center.”

The annual parade serves as a cornerstone event for Nassau County’s Irish-American community, bringing together residents from multiple villages and towns to celebrate shared heritage. The event showcases the strong Irish-American presence on Long Island, with participants representing various organizations, civic groups, and cultural societies.

The celebration reflects the broader Irish-American tradition of St. Patrick’s Day parades throughout the region, with Mineola’s event standing out for its size and community participation. The parade’s growth in recent years demonstrates the continued vitality of Irish cultural celebrations in Nassau County.