57th Montauk Friends Of Erin St. Pat's Day Parade Wows: Photos

MONTAUK, NY — Montauk was a sea of green Sunday as the 57th Annual Montauk Friends of Erin St. Patrick's Day Parade delighted crowds.

This year's Grand Marshal Gordon Ryan, Esq. and the East Hampton Town Police Department led the celebration on its traditional route through the village. The judges and other local dignitaries watched from the viewing stand on Main Street, as East End fire departments joined local organizations in the celebration.

According to the Montauk Chamber of Commerce, the parade was founded in 1962 to "bring the dreary winter to an end . . . For 57 years, generations of Montaukers, East Enders and visitors come to downtown Montauk to cheer on the family-friendly floats, marchers and welcome the spring season," Laraine Creegan, executive director, Montauk Chamber of Commerce, said.

One of the most heartwarming highlights of the event took place on parade day when Chamber members ladled out hot soup donated by Montauk restaurants for sale in parade commemorative mugs.

Three Friends of Erin fundraisers led up to the big parade, including the 16th Annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner at The Point Bar & Grill, the Grand Marshal Luncheon at Gurney's Star Island Resort and Marina — where the Grand Marshal was introduced, roasted and presented with the parade sash, top hat and shillelagh, or Irish walking stick; that popular event was hosted by Joan Lycke, a past grand marshal — and the Gala Cocktail Party, one of the parade's main fundraisers, at Gurney's Montauk Resort and Seawater Spa.

During the parade, kids enjoyed green face-painting, reaching for foam shamrocks and shillelaghs, and gathering lucky beads and candy tossed from the floats of hometown businesses and firetrucks. Long Island bagpipe bands came out to march and delight.

Patch photos by Richard Lewin Professional Photography, soniboy@aol.com.

With reporting by Richard Lewin.