New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani greets people during the 265th St. Patrick's Day Parade on 5th Avenue Manhattan in New York City, U.S., March 17, 2026. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
New York hosts St. Patrick’s Day parade
(New York, NY) — Mayor Mamdani surprised many when he announced last minute that he would march in last weeks St. Patrick’s Day Parade. During his campaign last year, he told reporters he would likely buck tradition and skip marching in the city’s ethnic pride celebrations. So when he took to a podium last week, and said he would hold a breakfast at Gracie Mansion for Irish leaders in the city, and step off on Fifth Avenue it even caught Irish New Yorkers by surprise.
It was the 265th annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Around 150 thousand took part in what is the world’s oldest parade up Fifth Avenue to showcase Irish heritage. It included dancers, bagpipers, bands and politicians including Mayor Mamdani.
Insiders say the Mayor’s decision to march may have been a gesture of solidarity with the Irish-American community, and an attempt to mend relationships with Catholic and law enforcement leaders. He received a lot of flack back in February when he skipped the instalment ceremonies for the new Archbishop, and when he sided with a group of men who beaned police officers with snowballs in the West Village.
At the St Patrick’s breakfast at Gracie Mansion, the Mayor spoke about the contributions the Irish have made to New York, and then used the speech to highlight historical parallels between the Irish struggle for independence and the current plight of Palestinians. Some in the room say they were shocked that he invoked the plight of Palestinians on a day that is normally meant to be festive. Groups like the Catholic League accused Mamdani of “hijacking” the holiday for his own political agenda.
At the parade, the mayor choose to march side by side with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and a large contingent of police officers. That was seen by many as a move to ease tensions between City Hall and One Police Plaza. Despite the joint appearance, some noticed that the Mayor and Police Commissioner barely spoke during the march suggesting there is still frostiness between the two.
Mamdani, who had expressed reluctance to attend parades, described the experience as “amazing” and a “pleasure”. Those watching from behind the barriers report the Mayor received a mostly warm reception.
