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Bagpipes, shamrocks, kilts and marchers flooded Manhattan's Fifth Avenue Wednesday for the city's annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade. But politicians this year were almost as rare as a four-leaf clover.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg stuck to his springtime tradition, basking before enthusiastic crowds while Police Commissioner Ray Kelly was busy playing the role of grand marshal.

Aside from the mayor, no citywide officials marched. The same applied to statewide politicians and both U.S. senators.

It was a break from the roots of the 249-year-old event that left a smattering of candidates like Republican Rick Lazio, who is running for governor and Steve Levy, a Democrat mulling a bid for the same office, maybe even on the same party line as Lazio.

"50-50 right now. A few more people I have to call to get commitments from them, and that will make the determination," said Levy.

"I'm think I'm completely confident that I'll be the nominee of the Republican party and the Conservative party," said Lazio.

There was also the politics of the parade. Organizers' frostiness toward gay rights groups again had many local elected officials boycotting the march.

"Not even all Irish need to be Catholic to participate in this event. But you can't be if you're gay?" asked one protestor.

"I think it's important for people to know that Irish identity is much more diverse than what is on display in this parade," said another.

Some wondered why if peace could come to Northern Ireland, why the same couldn't happen along a green-lined Fifth Avenue.

"We really can't find a way to let Irish lesbian and gay people march in a parade to express that they are proud that they are Irish and gay? It actually boggles the mind," said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Organizers did not return NY1's requests for comment.