Irish pride on parade as Superstorm Sandy hit Rockaways celebrated St Patrick

Rockaways prove they're bouncing back after Superstorm Sandy with St. Patrick's Day celebrations

“Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and by order of the mayor, everybody is a little Irish today.”
Other politicians on the march included mayoral front-runner Christine Quinn and fellow Democratic contenders John Liu and Bill de Blasio.  Republican candidate Joe Lhota was also there but maintained a relatively low profile.

New York Senator Charles Schumer marched well after the mayoral contenders, with megaphone in hand and an aide holding a sign saying “Senator Schumer Salutes the Irish.”

“I love the Irish,” he shouted, stopping at one point to tell a group that he was once named Hibernian of the Year.  “I was so proud that day,” he added.

Though some parade-goers roared at Schumer about FEMA grants, others were in a better mood.  “Come here, you’re so handsome,” one woman said with outstretched arms.  A grinning Schumer duly obliged, stopping for a photo and a chat.

“Of course, this is a great day for Rockaway,” Schumer told the Irish Voice.

When asked if the Irish can expect visas this year, he enthusiastically replied, “Yes, definitely yes!” before marching toward the reviewing stand.

Planning for the Rockaway parade was impacted by Hurricane Sandy and fundraising efforts were slowed, but Benn and his committee pulled out all the stops to ensure the march went off without a hitch.

“It’s a great day.  I’m very proud,” Benn said.  “We’ve come a long way.”

Some of the marchers also traveled a distance to participate in the parade, one of the largest in New York State.

“This is our first time here, and we really wanted to come because we had heard so much about Rockaway in the past,” Michael O’Connor of the Newport AOH Pipes and Drums Band told the Irish Voice.

The group took a bus from Rhode Island early in the morning, and were heading back in the evening to prepare for more parades.

“It was special being here considering all the devastation that happened,” O’Connor said.

“These people deserve a break and a good time, and I think they had that today.”

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Nster.com