Here are ten of my favorite must visit places in New York

1. American Irish Historical Society, 991 Fifth Ave., between 80th and 81st streets

“It contains many of the great historical records of the Irish. So it’s a treasure trove for someone like me who cherishes history, and it’s also the best place in New York to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, because it passes right by the window.”

2. Glucksman Ireland House, 1 Washington Mews, at Fifth Avenue

“It’s a fantastic place, on practically a nightly basis, to experience the best of Irish culture. Political speakers, playwrights and people who are well known speak here, such as writer Pete Hamill, Irish President Mary McAleese and actors Gabriel Byrne, Liam Neeson. It’s part of the fabric of the Irish community in New York.”

3. Rory Dolan’s Restaurant and Bar, 890 McLean Avenue, Yonkers

“A center for the Irish, where all the Irish-born immigrants gather. It’s a great place for Irish food and drink, camaraderie, and videos from the old country — they have a fantastic selection there. It’s also a center for community, because a lot of meetings — whether about immigration issues, local issues, whatever — take place there. So it’s a neighborhood center for everyone to go to.”

4. Irish Arts Center, 553 51st St., between 10th and 11th avenues

“A wonderful place to experience the best of Irish theater and cultural activities. Kids can learn Irish dancing or the Irish language, too. They’re about to build a huge new cultural center, for which the city and the Irish government have given them a lot of money. It’s going to be a wonderful place to bring your children, and to understand the culture that shapes us in this country.”

5. O’Neill’s Irish Bar, 729 Third Ave., between 45th and 46th streets

“My favorite pub. It’s a wonderful place, an old-fashioned Irish pub that serves bangers and mash, and the perfect place after the parade. It has a wonderful old-country Irish atmosphere. On the wall, brought over from Ireland, you have advertisements of train schedules from 100 years ago in Ireland, and of old taverns, and old Guinness ads that are 60, 70 years old. It just has a feeling of stepping back into the past.”

6. Gaelic Park, 4000 Corlear Ave., The Bronx

“Two great Irish games — hurling and football — are played here. Hurling is like ice hockey, except it’s played on grass. It’s Ireland’s oldest game — centuries old. You can see both of them there every Sunday from April through November. It’s a wonderful location, and a wonderful social place as well. Many marriages start off at Gaelic Park, because it’s a great place for young people to meet. Any young American girls hoping to meet an Irish guy can do a lot worse than Gaelic Park. It’s a good singles place.”

7. Irish Hunger Memorial, Vesey Street at North End Avenue

“A magnificent reality check for Irish-Americans who want to see what it must have been like to live in a little cottage in Ireland during the famine. Out of that famine came the massive immigration to America, so it’s very much the touchstone of the Irish-American community. You step back into the past and feel the past touch you in a way you couldn’t do with an ordinary exhibition.”

8. Irish Repertory Theatre, 132 W. 22nd St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues

“You get fantastic re-creations of the latest productions from Ireland, and great Irish-American dramas. They just did an amazing Eugene O’Neill play [‘The Emperor Jones’] that was moved to a bigger off-Broadway venue because it was so successful. It’s a wonderful way to drop in on your culture and your history.”

9. Fitzpatrick Manhattan, 687 Lexington Ave., between 56th and 57th streets

“A great hotel that’s a home away from a home for many Irish who come to this city. You can pick up the Irish papers and have your Irish breakfast, too, with real Irish bacon and sausage, black pudding and Irish soda bread. Everybody who comes here from Dublin ends up in the lobby at Fitzpatrick’s hotel.”

10. McSorley's Old Ale House, 15 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003.

“Established in 1854 as a saloon for Irish workers, this bar still stands today and is as much a living museum as a place to relax and enjoy a beverage.”