“That was excellent entertainment and some great food, too!”

Manny Mihailides – along with 100 other people – offered similar assessments of the Tri-City Elks annual St. Patrick’s Celebration, which was highlighted by a prolific performance by Warwick’s Damhsa Irish Dance Troupe.

Some 20 girls, who are students and members of the Damhsa Irish Dance Studio that’s located at 400 Warwick Avenue and is owned and operated by Colleen Kenyon and Grainne Conley, strutted their stuff during a dozen high energy routines that dazzled the sold out Wearin’ o’ the Green fete.

“Those girls are amazing,” Bessie Mihailides observed. “They never stop; and their costumes … they are beautiful.”

What was unique about the Damhsa dancers Saturday night – in addition to their costly attire that is priced at $1,000 per outfit – was that it was the girls’ fifth performance of the day.

They were at Lodge 14 on West Shore Road where they performed a year ago at St. Patrick’s Day and received rave reviews and standing ovations like they did Saturday night in a visit arranged by Tri-City Treasurer-elect Marianne Beirne, whose daughter Colleen co-owns the studio.

People who attended the sold out dinner, which included corned beef and cabbage cooked special by St. Paddy’s Chef and Lodge 14’s Past Exalted Ruler Steve Lagesse with help from Leading Knight Bob Hartington and Elk of the Year Cookie DeLory, were so appreciative of the Damhsa dancers, they presented the talented troupe with a monetary gift as well as a heart-shaped box of chocolates.