What life is like as a leprechaun on the Strip

At the old O’Sheas and the new, resident leprechaun Brian Thomas got lucky with a job that allows him to wear many green hats.

As the face of the Las Vegas Irish-themed pub underneath the High Roller at The Linq Promenade, Thomas can be seen on billboards and advertisements throughout the city, or at the bar — managing the staff, greeting customers, playing beer pong and taking selfies with starstruck patrons.

Ten years ago, he was tapped by Caesars Entertainment to be the official spokesman for the original O’Sheas, six times the size of the present-day bar. Thomas gave up his job at the Aladdin and a position as a “sensual greeter” for “Zumanity” at New York-New York for a green wardrobe, fortune and fame.

“The president, at the time, of Caesars was looking for a little person to represent one of their properties, so he sent one of his executive teams to talk to me,” Thomas recalled.

He knew he had found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

“Honestly, after 20 minutes of seeing him and his executive team, he gave me an offer I couldn’t say no to.”

Thomas said the green outfit was a topic of conversation immediately afterward.

“Don Marrandino told me if I’d be offended, you know, wearing a leprechaun outfit, and it’s not really offensive,” 4-foot-1-inch-tall Thomas said, sitting outside at O’Sheas’ “Blarney” bar in a Kelly green satin ensemble, complete with a top hat.

“In my opinion, I don’t feel exploited,” he went on. “I treat myself as a businessman; I come from a business background back in New Hampshire.”

That business sense helped him to trademark a catchy name after getting ordained three years ago.

“The word ‘minister,’ if you put a hyphen between the ‘i’ and the ‘s,’ what do you have?”

“Mini-ster,” he said, under which he now performs as many as five weddings a week.

His most vital position is at the bar, though.

The staff at Caesars and at the bar, 3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South, make him feel vital and important for playing the part.

“It wasn’t just being a character, there was a brain behind the leprechaun role,” he said.

Among the Las Vegas community of little people, he said not everyone agrees.

“It depends on how they promote themselves,” he replied, when asked if others object to his gig.

“I mean, being a little person in this day and age, you have to have thick skin, because society can be cruel at times, and they can treat you like more of an object than a human.”

Thomas isn’t made to feel like an object at O’Sheas, he said, especially when guests recognize him.

“I didn’t know where this was going to go back in 2006, but it ended up being more of a fan base.”

Two men approached him inside the bar, asking if he would pose with them, and he happily obliged, standing in front of a sign that bears his face.

“I’m not a picture hooker,” Thomas said of his choice not to take tips, like some of the characters on the Strip. He considers it an honor.

In a bigger way, “O’Sheas 2.0,” as Thomas calls it, will honor his decadelong legacy with an anniversary party timed with the St. Patrick’s Day Bloq Party.

Thomas will take part in Thursday’s festivities, which will include two parades through the promenade — at noon and 6 p.m. — beer pong, drink specials and live music throughout the day.

“Everything’s gonna be, like, greened-out,” he said.

He promotes his second home as a fun, hometown bar, with friendly staff, cheap beers and $5 blackjack.

“You know like ‘Cheers’? That’s how we like to embrace O’Sheas.”

Contact Kimberly De La Cruz at kdelacruz@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5244. Find her on Twitter: @KimberlyinLV