Irish on Long Island through the years
Long Island is home to some of the most Irish communities in New York and the United States.
Whether it's by step dancing or learning Gaelic, shaving their heads for St. Baldrick’s or simply enjoying a pint of Guinness, the Irish and the Irish at heart find ways every day to bring Long Island and the Emerald Isle closer.
Take a look at how Long Island has held onto its Irish roots over the years.
Credit: Newsday/Dick Kraus
On March 14, 1965, Sean P. Keating, grand marshal of the Hempstead St. Patrick's Day parade, is joined by Bishop Walter P. Kellenberg and New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy on the reviewing stand on Main Street.
Credit: Newsday / Julia Gaines
Siobhan Geerlings practices high-stepping during a solo Irish dancing competition at the Long Ireland Festival and 16th annual Feis in Plainview on September 18, 1988.
Credit: Newsday / Bill Davis
Denis O'Sullivan, Hugh Smith and Andrew Conlin, members of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, an association of Irish musicians, gather in Williston Park on September 12, 1993.
Credit: Newsday / Daniel Goodrich
Ellen F. McKenna and Theresa E. O'Malley of the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens view of copy of the Book of Kells on loan from the Bank of Ireland, at the society's library in Mineola on March 8, 1991.
Credit: Jim Nightingale
Donald Quigley of Hempstead takes a peek under the kilt of Tom Lindon as he talks to drummer Tony Morrisey on March 22, 1953. Both musicians were from the 9th Regiment Pipe Band in New York City.
Credit: Jim Nightingale
Jack McElroy, left, of New Hyde Park, shows Patrick McKenna, of Jackson Heights, a tie that was sent to him from Ireland at the New Hyde Park Inn on March 17, 1953.
Credit: Jim Nightingale
Ellen Sheridan, 3, of Hempstead, selects one of the buttons being sold by Matthew Donohue of Flushing during the St. Patrick's Day parade in Hempstead on March 22, 1953.
Credit: Jim Nightingale
John Moran of New Hyde Park, grand marshal of the St. Patrick's Day parade in Hempstead, lifts his shillelagh to signal the start of the parade on March 22, 1955.
Credit: Bill Sullivan
Michael O'Brien of Cedarhurst walks his Irish wolfhound Rory O'Moore in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Hempstead on March 13, 1955. The dog had won best in breed at a dog show held at Madison Square Garden.
Credit: Jim Nightingale
Mike O'Brien of Cedarhurst and his Irish wolfhound Rory O'Moore at Kennedy Park in Hempstead. The pair led the St. Patrick's Day parade in Hempstead on March 11, 1956.
Credit: Jim Nightingale
A group of Kilties marches past the reviewing stand on Main Street in Hempstead during the St. Patrick's Day parade on March 11, 1956. Hempstead Mayor William Guide and the Aides of the Irish Society watch from the stand.
Credit: Bill Sullivan
Sandra Schlosser, captain of the twirlers from St. Agnes in Rockville Centre, with grand marshal Thomas Mackey at the St. Patrick's Day parade in Hempstead on March 16, 1958.
Credit: Max Heine
Susie Davis, 9, of Yaphank, takes photos at the Rocky Point St. Patrick's Day parade on March 15, 1959.
Credit: Jim Cavanagh
Sisters Bridget, 5, and Lynda Rose, 6, of Hempstead, stand in the rain to see the parade on March 15, 1959.
Credit: Jim Nightingale
The Rev. Joseph Smith, John Gilhooly and Bishop Walter P. Kellenberg watch from the reviewing stand of the St. Patrick's Day parade in Hempstead on March 13, 1960. Smith was pastor of St. Thomas Church in West Hempstead, and Gilhooly was president of the Irish-American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens Counties.
Credit: Marvin Sussman
John Gilhooly, president of the Irish-American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens Counties, at the St. Patrick's Day parade in Hempstead on March 13, 1960.
Credit: Jim Cavanagh
Sgt. Joseph Cerron of Uniondale leads McGillicuddy, an Irish wolfhound, down Main Street at the Hempstead St. Patrick's Day parade on March 15, 1959.
Credit: Jim Nightingale
Mary Ellen Geary, 7, of St. Agnes Parish in Rockville Centre kisses the ring of Bishop Walter P. Kellenberg at the Hempstead St. Patrick's parade on March 13, 1960.
Credit: Jim Nightingale
Hempstead's chief of police and acting mayor, John Feeley and Ralph Dauch, watch the St. Patrick's parade on Main Street in Hempstead on March 13, 1960.
Credit: Newsday / Dick Kraus
Richard Zachary, 2, and his sister Frances, 5, of Bellerose, are all decked out for Hempstead's St. Patrick's parade on March 12, 1961, but don't seem to be in the mood to celebrate.
Credit: Jim Cavanagh
The Village of Patchogue renamed itself the Village of St. Patchogue for one day on March 16, 1962.
Credit: Dick Kraus
Lydia Brown, 4, of Hempstead, hands a bouquet of flowers to Bishop Walter P. Kellenberg at the reviewing stand for the St. Patrick's parade on Main Street in Hempstead on March 14, 1965.
Credit: Dick Kraus
Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Bishop Walter P. Kellenberg watch the St. Patrick's parade from the reviewing stand on March 14, 1965, in Hempstead.
Credit: Dick Kraus
Hempstead St. Patrick's parade Grand Marshal Sean P. Keating and Bishop Walter P. Kellenberg join Sen. Robert F. Kennedy on the parade viewing stand on March 14, 1965.
Credit: Richard Benjamin
Pattie Hall, 6, of Islip, is dressed as St. Patrick for the parade on Montauk Highway in East Islip on March 16, 1969.
Credit: Newsday / David L. Pokress
Nassau County Police Benevolent Association President Dan Greenwald sports a shamrock on his forehead as he marches down Fifth Avenue in New York City's Saint Patrick's Day Parade on March 17, 1979.
Credit: R.A. Luckey, Jr.
George Semevolos, twin daughters Sarah and Jane, and son John watch the St. Patrick's parade as it passes by on Route 25A in Rocky Point on March 16, 1986.
Credit: Newsday / Thomas R. Koeniges
The NYPD's Emerald Society Band marches down Main Street in East Islip's St. Patrick's parade on March 6, 1988.
Credit: Newsday / Karen Wiles Stabile
Patrick Crea and Christopher McLaughlin, both 5, take turns blowing their horns as they march in the St. Patrick's parade in Garden City on March 6, 1988.
Credit: Newsday / Audrey C. Tiernan
Andy Muller, honored as the founder of Rocky Point's St. Patrick's parade, waves to passing floats on March 13, 1988.
Credit: Newsday / Thomas R. Koeniges
Members of Amityville's American Legion Pipe Band march in the St. Patrick's parade in Montauk on March 18, 1989.
Credit: Newsday / Bill Davis
Grand marshal Tom McCarrick leads the St. Patrick's parade in Rocky Point on March 12, 1989.
Credit: Newsday / V. Richard Haro
Grand Marshal Dennis O'Sullivan, parade Chairman Patrick Kearns and President of the Irish-American Society Theresa O'Malley plan for the St. Patrick's Day Parade from Garden City to Mineola on March 1, 1990.
Credit: Newsday / J. Conrad Williams, Jr.
Terri Kear and Al Giordano of Hicksville take a spin on the dance floor at a St. Patrick's Day senior citizen dance in Lido Beach on March 16, 1990.
Credit: Newsday / Julia Gaines
Paralyzed NYPD Officer Steven McDonald leads Glen Cove's St. Patrick's Day parade as grand marshal on March 4, 1990.
Credit: Newsday / Cliff De Bear
Members of the honorary grand marshals, Operation Desert Shield, carry a banner filled with names of deployed U.S. military members during the St. Patrick's Day parade in Brentwood on March 2, 1991.
Credit: Newsday / Staci Anne K. Visco
The Saffron Kilt Band marches in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Westhampton Beach on March 9, 1991.
Credit: Newsday / Thomas R. Koeniges
Grand marshal of the St. Patrick's Day parade William J. MacGuffin marches down Franklin Avenue in Garden City on March 10, 1991.
Credit: Newsday / John H. Cornell, Jr.
The Brownies of Troop 991 are decked out for the St. Patrick's Day parade as they march down Route 25 in Miller Place on March 15, 1992.
Credit: Newsday / John H. Cornell, Jr.
Bagpipers from Amityville's American Legion lead Montauk's St. Patrick's Day parade on March 22, 1992.
Credit: Newsday/ Ken Spencer
Girls from the Redmond Academy of Irish Dancing teach boys from St. Mary's Children and Family Services the basics of Irish step dancing at the Milleridge Inn in Jericho on March 15, 1993.
Credit: Newsday / David L. Pokress
Patchogue firefighter William Antonio poses with his fellow firefighters as they march in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Bayport on March 13, 1994.
Credit: Newsday / Thomas Ferrara
Theresa Abbadessa practices Irish step dancing with her classmates at the Petri School of Irish Dancing in East Northport.
Credit: Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara
Siobhan Donaghy, left, and Theresa Abbadessa practice Irish step dancing at the Petri School of Irish Dancing in East Northport.
Credit: Newsday / Karen Wiles Stabile
Petri School of Irish Dance students Katherine Whelan, Caitlin Burke, Chrissi Dunham, and Kate Gilmore perform outside Connolly Station on March 15, 2001.
Credit: Newsday/ Bill Davis
Kathleen McGowan, Samantha Merritt, and Samantha Toth chat before a performance at the 27th annual Feis na Nollag at Westbury High School on Feb. 20, 2005.
Credit: Newsday / Bill Davis
Paul Scott of Port Washington earned a second-place trophy at the 27th annual Feis na Nollag on Feb. 20, 2005.
Credit: Newsday / Bill Davis
Patti Mackrell of Wyckoff, N.J., prepares for her performance at the 27th Annual Feis na Nollag at Westbury High School on Feb. 20, 2005.
Credit: Newsday / Bill Davis
A dancer watches as others line up at the 27th Annual Feis na Nollag at Westbury High School on Feb. 20, 2005.
Credit: Bridget O'Brien
Lorna Weyant paints a shamrock on Erin Gallagher's cheek at the annual Long Beach Irish Heritage Day Parade & Festival on Oct. 1, 2005.
Credit: Newsday / Ana P. Gutierrez
Nicholas McNeill gets his head shaved during the St. Baldrick's Day event in Northport on March 7, 2008.
Credit: Newsday / Daniel Brennan
A leprechaun waves to the crowds during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Lake Ronkonkoma on March 13, 2011.
Credit: Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara
Michael O'Connor of Bay Shore learns Gaelic at the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Babylon on March 3, 2011.
Credit: Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara
Raymond Clarke teaches Gaelic to students during a class at the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Babylon on March 3, 2011.
Credit: Tara Conry
Santa Claus made a cameo in the Lake Ronkonkoma St. Patrick's Day Parade in a green sleigh on March 9, 2014.
Credit: Tara Conry
A biker sporting a shamrock leather jacket leads a caravan of motorcycles in the 26th annual Glen Cove St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 23, 2014.
Credit: Brittany Wait
Nicholas Spano is dressed as a leprechaun on the St. Patrick's School float during the Bay Shore-Brightwaters St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 8, 2014.
Credit: Barry Sloan
Irish wolfhounds Shannon and Declan are held by their owner, Janice Preisz of Baldwin, at the Long Island Pet Expo at Suffolk County Community College on March 7, 2015.
Rededication
Credit: Steven Sunshine
Andrew Healey of the Nassau County Board of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and Art Mattson, author and historian, attend the rededication of the Mariners Burying Ground at Rockville Cemetery in Lynbrook on Oct. 24, 2015.
Credit: Steven Sunshine
Mariners Burial Ground in Rockville Cemetery in Lynbrook is rededicated Oct. 24, 2015.
Credit: Steven Sunshine
The Mariner's Burial Ground in Rockville (Sand Hole) Cemetery in Lynbrook is dedicated Oct. 24, 2015.
Credit: Newsday / Instagram user tarakconry
Griffin and Crystal, giant schnauzers from Setauket, are cozy in their green shamrock jackets at the 2015 Montauk St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Credit: Newsday / Dennis Hickey
A shamrock painted on a rock in Crane Neck shows some Celtic pride.
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Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.