Irish – the freeborn travelling portrait project

New York St Patty’s Day Parade with Irish and American flags

Happy St Patrick’s Day to everyone around the world today! This day last year I was in New York for St Patty’s Day as they call it over there. It was absolutely freezing. I could barely feel my fingers when using my camera that day! These are some of my favourite images, which I wanted to share in retrospect. That day I experienced one of the world’s largest and most famous parades.

Marching Brass Band Musicians pause to take a breath between tunes

By pure chance I met lots of Irish Americans including from the Donegal Association of New York, who had emigrated from small seaside townlands such as Kildoney in Donegal, only a few miles from my family farm in Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal, Ireland. Of course, in the typical Irish way…they knew my father! Like me, he’s a very friendly guy.

Joseph Duelk Jr. (John) of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, New York

Wherever you are in the world, I hope you have a great St Patrick’s Day and if you’re in New York you might still be able to make it to see the parade in person. If not, you can always watch it in the comfort of your own home via links on the NBC New York website.

Lambeg Drummer, Ancient Order of the Hibernians, Orange County New York

New York State Troopers

B.J. Murphy Irish American New York State Trooper

Irish American families sporting traditional Irish Aran knitwear jumpers

Irish American NYC Fire Department (FDNY) Piper

Me posing proudly with my neighbours from home, the President and Past Presidents of the New York Donegal Association - some of them new my father of course!

Me posing proudly with my neighbours from my homeland in Ireland, the President and Past Presidents of the New York Donegal Association – typically they new my father of course!