NORWICH – Hundreds of people displaying their Irish pride with green, white and orange watched those same colors rise above West Park in Norwich Wednesday at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Flag ceremony, which included live Irish music and Claddagh Ring Dancers.

The event’s organizers, Chenango County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan and Norwich City Supervisor Jim McNeil, said the flag raising has been a longstanding tradition and yesterday’s celebration drew a larger crowd than any other in previous memory.

As the crowds gathered at noon, local musicians known as The Sons of Ireland played rhythms that stirred dozens of attending school children and even a few businessmen on their lunch break to dance to the Celtic beats.

The Chenango County Board of Supervisors grants a special request each year to fly the Irish flag just below the American flag in front the courthouse from noon Wednesday until the end of Thursday.