Irish eyes and eyes of other ethnicities were smiling last week when members of the Essex County Emerald Society Pipe Band visited students at Bloomfield's St.Thomas the Apostle School. 

For the tenth year, the Essex County Emerald Society Pipe Band, composed of local police officers and firefighters, has performed in honor of Saint Patrick.  

St.Thomas The Apostle students, Caitlin Hollywood, Lauren Hollywood and Makayla Kondreck beamed with pride as their dads, Dave Hollywood of the Nutley Fire Department and Kyle Kondreck of the Belleville Police Department, played and spoke about their instruments.

The bagpipes and drums echoed throughout the school, providing students with a lively musical interlude of Irish and American songs.

Sister Joan, Kyle Kondreck, Dave Hollywood, Principal Joan Ferraer

Front row: Makayla Kondreck, Lauren Hollywood, Caitlin Hollywood