LIers among revelers at St. Pat's parade

Long Islanders flaunted their Irish pride and flocked Thursday to midtown Manhattan to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

John Papa, 20, of West Islip, had fortified himself with a "green breakfast" -- including green eggs and green cream cheese -- before taking the Long Island Rail Road into Manhattan. He was decked out in full leprechaun regalia in anticipation of the 250th annual New York City St. Patrick's Day parade.

"It's about having a good time half of the day with friends, then spending the other half with family. We're going to have a corned-beef-and-cabbage dinner" at home with my family, Papa said.

The parade up Fifth Avenue included pipe bands, cheerleaders, marching bands, and uniformed fire, police and military officials.

Mystery writer Mary Higgins Clark was grand marshal of the parade, which also featured Mayor Michael Bloomberg and members of the Nassau and Suffolk County police departments.

For Chief John McKenna, 45, of the Northport Fire Department, the parade was an opportunity to march with his "brothers and sisters" in other firefighting agencies. "Today is a chance to look back on our own heritages. Of course, we're proud to be American, but America was built on the backs of those of all different heritages," McKenna said.

Frank Moran, 66, an Amity Harbor resident born in Mayo, Ireland, said his native country celebrated the holiday differently. "In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is a holy day. We went to church. The pubs didn't even open," he said.

About 2 million revelers attended the parade, taking advantage of springlike sunshine with temperatures in the upper 50s.

Thursday was Port Washington resident Gerry Dimmler's 22nd year playing Irish pipes in the parade. "Just show up," Dimmler, 41 and an engineer, told newcomers. "It's a great day. Today, the city is at its best."

Many younger Long Islanders were ready to celebrate late into the night, but not Derek Stack, 26, of Fire Island, who marched with Coast Guard colleagues. "I'm here representing my heritage, then I'll meet up with friends, but it's going to be an early night," he said. "I've got work tomorrow."