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The world's oldest and largest St. Patrick's Day Parade stepped off at 11 a.m.

This year's grand marshal was Mike Gibbons, president of the Ireland-U.S. Council and a former Estee Lauder executive.

"It really is a great day," said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. "The first parade I marched in was high school, then college. Then I remember policing many of these parades. The parade has gotten better, I think, in many ways."

Dozens of bag pipers, bands, and Irish organizations pounded the pavement from 44th to 86th Streets.

"It's a great day," said one parade-goer. "It's an honor and a privilege. We came over from Ireland to walk."

While many love the parade itself, others said they were looking forward to the after-party.

"Oh, corned beef and cabbage and I want my mashed potatoes," said another parade-goer.

"I'm going to drink a lot of the black stuff and then let my wife carry me home," said a third.

Earlier in the day, Governor David Paterson and Mayor Michael Bloomberg were among those who attended St. Patrick's Day mass.

Edward Cardinal Egan celebrated the mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral with a chalice used by priests in Ireland during the worst era of the persecutions.

"It speaks to me of all that is good and noble, all that is strong and holy. And the Irish people in Ireland, in America and across the world may it be a source of inspiration for all of us here," said Egan.

This is the last St. Patrick's Day mass Cardinal Egan will celebrate as archbishop of New York.

Meanwhile, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn once again sat out the parade.

The openly-gay speaker spent the day at the White House with President Barack Obama and the prime minister of Ireland.

Quinn has refused to march in the parade because organizers do not allow gays to march under their own banner.

The speaker said she hoped to talk with the president about gay rights issues.

Quinn's stance was mirrored by the group Irish Queers, who also voiced their disapproval along the parade route Tuesday.

The group has held a longstanding dispute with the parade's organizers, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, over the exclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

They say the Order's narrow definition of Irishness keeps them from openly participating.

"In Ireland LGBT groups march in Dublin, Belfast, in every St. Patrick's Day parade. It's like a 1950s version of some closet that the parade organizers here in New York act out of. It's out of step with what's happening in Ireland so yes I know we will march someday," said John Francis Mulligan, a protester.