Irish pride was on full display yesterday as thousands of revelers cast economic worries aside to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
“I don’t have a job but my grandfather would turn over in his grave if I didn’t come to the parade and have a couple of pints,” said Celia Bryant, of Bay Ridge, who lost her job as an executive assistant two months ago.
“My Irish-ness is recession-proof,” the 32-year- old said.
Anthony O’Neill, 26, of Orange, NJ, was also in good spirits despite being laid off six months ago from his job as a marketing assistant. “I’ll be spending my last $100 at the bar tonight with my family and friends.”
“What’s the use of being Irish if you don’t celebrate?” he said.
Nearly 400,000 participants and spectators clad in green cheered and waved Irish flags along Fifth Avenue during the world’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day bash, which was held for the 248th time.
This year’s Grand Marshall, Michael Gibbons, a retired Estée Lauder executive, gushed, “It’s an honor of a lifetime.”
New York National Guard’s Fighting 69th kicked off the parade, which stretched from 44th Street up to 86th Street.
The famed infantry unit recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan.
Edward Cardinal Egan joined in the festivities as he stepped out from St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
It was his last parade as spiritual leader of the Archdiocese of New York. The 77-year-old is retiring next month after nine years as archbishop to 2.5 million Catholics.
Jubilation was also mixed with sadness yesterday as a retired New York State court officer suffered a fatal heart attack while marching in the parade, cops and witnesses said.
Steve Dunne, 59, of The Bronx, was marching with the Police Pipes and Drums of Bergen County, NJ, when he collapsed on 75th Street.
Police and band members desperately tried to revive him before he was taken to St. Luke’s hospital, where he later died.
“He was your old-time Irish cop who lived for the New York City parade and walking that green line,” said friend and band member Brian McKeever, 38, a New Jersey cop. “He would go out of his way to help anyone out.”
Additional reporting by Sally Goldenberg