Achill-henge County Mayo Ireland

2012-01-27T06:52:00.000-08:00

A portrait of Elvis Presley in what appears to be Ludwig Van Beethoven attire.

Maybe a certain craigallenhicks on FECC would now appreciate the Doc's paranoia? I'm nowhere near THAT shy! LOL.

2011-12-05T03:29:00.000-08:00

Achill-Henge on Achill Island. An audacious structure erected in just one weekend. Without planning permission. The controversy surrounding it continues as this magnificent tourist attraction draws more and more people to see it. Even in this inclement weather!

MacNamara's Band!

Discovering Ireland 2011.

2011-08-17T00:17:00.001-07:00

Heather and gorse flowers carpet the Wicklow Gap landscape for mile after mile. This photo on the way down to Glendalough a favourite location for millions of visitors to Ireland.

Including two ladies from Southern California that we were chatting with over breakfast at the hotel there. Hi You guys! :-)

Maurice_Colgan@yahoo.com Always like to hear from nice people.
Spam is automatically deleted.

Transportable Gardens

2011-05-11T12:42:00.000-07:00

#News. May 20th.
Sowing wildflower seeds in a large shallow plastic container filled with suitable compost from a DIY Store is one way of creating little portable gardens.

The roots of the plants mesh and when strong enough form a removable mat of flowers that can be placed on prepared sites in your garden...or neglected public spaces for all to enjoy.

Larger versions are possible with the use of chickenwire. My 8ft by 3ft proto-type sown a couple of years ago and left to grow in our own garden helped to instantly cover a nearbye eye-sore patch of ground neglected by the County Council. I just rolled it up and carried it on a wheelbarrow to the location. It's still there flowering away.

Maurice_Colgan@yahoo.com

Discovering Ireland

2011-04-26T23:48:00.000-07:00

A collapsed Dolmen in the grounds of Howth castle county Dublin. Dolmens are plentiful in Ireland and can be found in locations nationwide. This one we saw for the first time just a couple of days ago as my wife Maureen and I escorted our daughter and her teenage daughters around historical sites such as Newgrange, and Knowth which are relatively nearby.

Discovering Ireland

2011-03-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

Ancient Newgrange restored. It's older than the pyramids of Egypt. Many thousands visit from all over the world.

Achill island county Mayo Ireland one of our favourite beauty spots. The scenery around the Atlantic drive is dramatic and spectacular.
Great traditional music and excellent restaurant meals. Numerous coves and beaches for swimming.

Elvis Presley Honoured by Budapest city Hungary

2011-03-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

A square in Budapest is to be named in honour of Elvis Presley because of his support for that country during the 1956 uprising.

The story is generating massive publicity for Elvis internationally. BMG should release 'Peace in the Valley', on a single by Elvis immediately.

Elvis Presley International Airport, Memphis, is not so far off now! ?

edit.

Elvis Presley in Ireland 2011.

2011-02-19T09:14:00.000-08:00

#Udate February 2011

A scene with Elvis Presley and Dolores Hart not used in the movie, "King Creole".

Jim Carrol a reporter for The Irish Times newspaper covers the Viva Elvis album with discussions about the re-mix type of recording by 'closet' Elvis Presley fan Ryan Tubridy a celebrity TV show host here in Ireland, and other celebrity participants.

Elvis Presley Lecture at Trinity College Dublin

2011-01-09T04:38:00.000-08:00

#News January 2011.

https://www.tcd.ie/OWC/staff/dr-samuel-slote.php

Professor Samuel Slote is to give a lecture on Elvis "The Sun King" on the 15th February 2011. Elvis famously recorded whole albums at the legendary Sun studios in 1954.
Dr Samuel Slote an American usually concentrates his attention on Ireland's most famous writers such as James Joyce and Samuel Becket etc.

The growing amount of scholars such as Dr Vernon Chadwick (See Elvis Conference programme above) and Dr Peter Nazareth now addressing Elvis Presley's career is phenominal. We mere fans from the '50s look on with great interest and not a little amusement. Are we not the real 'experts' on Elvis?

2011-01-05T23:45:00.000-08:00

#News update

Elvis fan Chilean miner Edison Pena was visiting Elvis Presley's Graceland today. He will be in Tupelo Mississippi on the 9th January, and Graceland in Memphis on Elvis's birthday 8th January 2011.
The news is creating acres of newsprint around the world. and Radio will be covering the story too.
Edison will receive the keys to the City of Tupelo!

Discovering Ireland

2010-12-16T08:17:00.000-08:00

A view from on top of a mountain that you can drive your car up on Achill Island county Mayo Ireland. My wife, Maureen and I had fun building the pile of rocks early one sunny morning last year.

A visit to the Irish Emigrant Forum may be a good idea as a lot of photos and stories about Ireland are being displayed.

http://emigrant.ie/boards/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=1&page=1

2010-09-15T02:23:00.000-07:00

Reading about the fascinating life of Ludwig Van Beethoven is always a pleasure. Now to select a symphony to listen to this morning! It will be much better than listening to Dr Phil! :-)

Maurice_Colgan@yahoo.com Feel free to contact me. Spam is automatically deleted. :-)

My Happiness by Elvis Presley

2010-08-04T15:45:00.000-07:00

Updated News, 4th September 2010.

Thank goodness for imaginative editors like Alan Lewis of "Record Collector" magazine.

Freelance reporter Patricia Bunin, with Dick Guyton of the Elvis Birthplace. Patricia of Altedena California kindly sent me the photo by email this morning.She had done an article on Elvis for a pasadena newspaper.

The song "My Happiness" can be heard on youtube.com

BBC Radio Elvis Tribute Concert in Hyde Park London

2010-07-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

Famous radio show presenter, Chris Evans, will host a Tribute Concert for Elvis Presley in Hyde Park London on the 12th September 2010.
The good news is spreading like wildfire across Elvis Forums, around the world.

Record Collector magazine to Feature Elvis.

2010-06-30T08:13:00.000-07:00

The Record Collector magazine based in the UK will be featuring Elvis Presley and the 1953 "My Happiness" acetate recording story, out on 5th August next. It's my article so buy loads of copies! I will. :-)

"My Happiness" by Elvis 1953. 2010.

2010-04-04T07:15:00.000-07:00

Update. 21st June 2010.

For Record Collectors.
After the sad death of Ed Leek The "My Happiness" acetate recording is now the property of his widow, Mrs Susan Leek of Florida USA.
Contact Maurice_Colgan@yahoo.com

Elvis and Dolores Update

2010-02-14T02:12:00.000-08:00

The "Grace Land" article from "People" magazine was sent to me in 1997 by an American Elvis fan. Thanks to the article including the Abbey's address I was able to write to Mother Dolores Hart, osb., at the Abbey of Regina Laudis Bethlehem CT.
We have been corresponding by letter, notes, and Christmas cards ever since. Her latest letter arrived on the 11th February 2010.
Dolores is presently writing her biography to be embellished with her sketches and photos. Her memories of her friendship and moviemaking with Elvis Presley in 1957 and 1958 are sure to be most welcome.
Photos of Elvis and Dolores are from the 1957 movie "Loving You".

Elvis Presley in Jeans Teenager to Star.

2010-01-09T11:58:00.000-08:00

Anne Helm with Elvis in jeans. She kindly replied to a letter from me and sent us a similiar photo to this one from the movie "Follow That Dream",along with a nice letter.
"Follow That Dream" was the song played on RTE1 radio Ireland announcing our trip to Memphis in August 1997. Elvis expert Joe Jackson of "The Irish Times" accompanied us with a lady from BMG Records, Ireland. A documentary of our trip was broadcast on radio May 1998.

To the left, middle photo shows Elvis as a fifteen year old wearing denim jeans with an early girfriend, Betty McMahon.

A new find of Elvis in jeans.

A painting of Elvis in the National Portrait Gallery Washington DC.

There are those that would say Elvis Presley did not like wearing Denim jeans because they were supposed to remind him of his childhood poverty.

Yet the two movies stars he most admired, Marlon Brando and James Dean, were rarely out of them in the 1950s. Elvis is often seen wearing not only jeans in his movies but also matching denim jackets. Famously so in the 1957 movie, "Loving You".

It doesn't take a Sherlock Holmes to work out the, Elvis didn't like Jeans, story is another of those myths circulated by a few mislead fans.

2009-10-15T01:00:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year to all my many thousands of visitors!

I just hope 2010 or MMX will be as exciting as 2009.

Maurice_Colgan@yahoo.com Feel free to contact me.
UPDATE 20th December 2009.

Dolores and Elvis "Loving You" movie 1957.

BBC2 TV and BBC radio are celebrating what would have been Elvis Presley's 75th birthday next January 8th, with an evening of video documentaries, and a six part radio series about Elvis's early years in Tupelo Mississppi.

Dolores Hart and Elvis Presley 1958.

Last night I received an email from a BBC Correspondent in Los Angeles inquiring If I could put her in touch with Dolores Hart.I called the Abbey where Mother Dolores Hart, osb, now resides and passed on the inquery to a nun.

Minutes later our telephone rang and I found myself talking to Dolores Hart, herself! "May I speak to, 'Maureece' Colgan, she said.

"Speaking" said I. Amazed at such a wonderful response.
We spoke for about ten minutes and Dolores graciously agreed to take part in the BBC Documentary.

I think I need to lay down now. :-)

New 70 Million Irish Website & Forum

2009-10-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

http://www.seventymillion.com/

Why not take a peek and enjoy the Craic?

Here I was on a mountain in Achill Island county Mayo just weeks ago. I'm not praying by the way. :-)

Richard Dawkins and Ireland

2009-09-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

Richard Dawkins discussed his latest book "The Greatest Show on Earth" at the RDS Concert Hall in Dublin on the 17th September 2009.
Talking to Richard Dawkins as he signed my copy of his book was indeed a pleasure.
Charles Darwin's work on Evolution has been championed by Dawkins for more than a decade now and his impact on the scientific world has been extraordinary.

This book is well worth acquiring.

Elvis Presley and the, "My Happiness" Acetate,. 2009.

2009-09-01T02:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the good ol' telephone I was able to speak to Ed Leek (See below) last night for about 20 minutes.

He is bravely facing serious medication and is confident and upbeat about it all.

Ed is a very articulate man and it's a pleasure to listen to him talk about life in general, world wars and the propaganda about them. Hollywoods over the top portrayal of the conflicts and family, travel, and of course the acetate recording by Elvis that he is eager to find a good home for.

The advertisement for the, Elvis Presley in Concert, event appeared in "The Irish Times" newspaper some weeks ago. The ground-breaking concert was first seen in Memphis 1997 and has toured the world since.

It will be back in Ireland March 2010.

The Iveagh Gardens Dublin Ireland.

2009-06-15T04:17:00.000-07:00

Beethoven Central Park NY.

Letter to the Editor.

Published in The Irish Times 12th June 2009

Classical proposal for Iveagh Gardens Dublin

Madam, – The Minister of State Dr Martin Mansergh TD, in turning down my idea for “Ireland’s National Music Sculpture Park” to be located in the Iveagh Gardens, in Dublin, stated the Iveagh Gardens are intended for “passive recreation”.
This weekend thousands of people will be trampling the green lawns of the Iveagh Gardens as they partake in a four-day long Taste of Dublin food festival! A comedy festival in the public Iveagh Gardens will follow in July.
I had envisaged sculptures of Ludwig Van Beethoven, Mozart, etc, along with our own Irish composers joining the fine life-sized bronze statue of John McCormack in the Iveagh Gardens, as a prestigious tourist attraction for Ireland.
The Society of Irish Composers thinks it an excellent idea, Senator David Norris does too, along with many other politicians.
Ireland could be the first country in the world to open a park dedicated to music-related sculpture on a large scale. The proximity of our National Concert Hall could help to ensure such an endeavour would be very successful.
Classical music concerts could help cover the cost of commissioning the works of music-related artwork.
Food for thought? – Yours, etc,
Maurice Colgan.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2009/0612/1224248683172.html

My Happiness.

2009-05-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

Update 20th May 2009. http://www.wildroverclothing.com

This cover made by Rex an Elvis fan.

Update 10th May 2009

Ed Leek and his wife on a Caribean cruise.

See Ed's amazing story below.

Elvis Presley's 1953 "My Happiness", Disc

2009-03-04T15:33:00.000-08:00

The Holy Grail of Rock 'n' Roll owned by Elvis's school pal Ed Leek is for Sale!

Ed is seen here with Marion Keisker of Sun Records identifying the original 1953 recording.

The value of this uique and historic recording has yet to be ascertained.

If at all interested please contact me by email. Maurice_Colgan@yahoo.com

Updated. 12th October 2009. More info and photos concerning the historic disc will appear here soon.

Beethoven's "Irish" Symphony.

2009-02-02T08:51:00.000-08:00

Beethoven's magnificent 7th Symphony uses the Irish song "Save me from the Grave and Wise", for the frantic forth movement of this great work.

The sound is unmistakably Irish.

A very wild and exhilarating dance for a Michael Flatley! ?

Today I purchased the Complete Works of Beethoven on 100 CDs! An early birthday gift for meself, I deserve it. :-)

Ireland's National Music Sculpture Park.

2009-01-10T06:47:00.000-08:00

Beethoven memorial in China!

Update News 30th May 2009.
Support for the Music Park idea is flooding in.

Senator, David Norris, has kindly offered his support in a reply to my email.
Irish Goverment Ministers are now aware of the idea.

Dr. John McLachlan

Executive Director
Association of Irish Composers

supports the idea.

"Ireland's National Music Park", discussed at the AIC'S, AGM.

The famous Irish Composer and Harpist.
Along with John Field,Thomas Moore, and Opera soprano Margaret Sheridan we could have memorials to Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Tchaikovsky etc. The idea is still in it's embryonic stage, but gathering momentum by the minute as word of it spreads across the globe, thanks to the Internet.

A very nice Christmas present.

Famous Irish Tenor, John McCormack 2008.

2008-07-03T02:34:00.000-07:00

The photo compilation taken July 13 2008.

This beautiful life-sized bronze statue of the great Irish Tenor John McCormack by gifted sculptor Elizabeth O' Kane, stands in the Iveagh Gardens in Dublin Ireland. Fittingly it is close to the National Concert Hall.

John McCormack conquered the hearts of millions of people with his wonderful voice especially in America.
Curiously, the unveiling of the statue on the 19th of June 2008 was overlooked by the Irish TV, radio and newspapers! here it is privately done http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=148BgH_zQvc

There are many samples of John McCormack's amazing voice on youtube.com, even scenes from historic movies, and Concerts.
Everyone with an ear for song, from Caruso to Callas and on, would/can only marvel at this wonderful singer's extraordinary career.

An estimated audience of one MILLION people at the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin's Phoenix Park 1932 witnessed his performance.

A Ludwig Van Beethoven Mystery.

2007-05-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

Stll no news so we try Twitter!

Where is the original painting of Beethoven and the Nymph playing the Flute? How many copies of the print exist? Did the same artist create the image of Beethoven used on the CD?

The Beethoven-hous Bonn Museum people are checking the scan I sent them.

Where is the media when they are needed!
Just one imaginative editor is all that is required to launch this story world-wide.

Meanwhile I'll do it myself :-)

The print from Edward Gross Co NY depicts a painting of the great Composer Ludwig Van Beethoven by Joannes de 'Tahey'? the name is a little indistinct. The yellowed and crinkled print in a black laquered frame appears to be quite old. It is a picture of Beethoven I have never seen before..and I have been reading about the composer for more than 40 years!
Any info would be appreciated. Maurice_Colgan@yahoo.com