Kate Bush and Elvis Presley..

 

Kate bush is in the news! March 21st 2014.

A photo of Kate Bush signed top left but a little sun faded. It came with a typed and signed letter from Kate in reply to a letter from me in 1984.

What an astounding artist she is.

Her tribute to Elvis Presley, the song, 'King of the Mountain', came as a great and most welcome surprise.

 

 

Discovering Ireland.

Doolin harbour county Clare Ireland. Irish music, great food, and lively conversations with people from all over the world makes Doolin a place of special interest to tourists that appreciate absolutely beautiful scenery and ancient prehistoric monuments and stone forts.

Knocknarea County Sligo Ireland.

Update July 11th 2013. Finally made the difficult climb (For this senior citizen) up to Queen Maeve's Tomb on Knocknarea last Saturday.
Spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and Atlantic ocean.

Ancient Queen Maeve's tomb is located atop 327 metres high Knocknarea it dominates the area from afar.

Horse shoe valley north of Glencar. A quiet and peaceful place. Especially in the evening.

Discovering Ireland.

 

UPDATE. 13th June 2013. Was in Galway, Connemara, Achill island, Roscommon, Sligo,  leitrim and Wicklow recently.  The beautiful weather drew us. Now back to Guerilla gardening as the rain helps the flowers and plants to flourish in Swords 'Botanic' gardens.  :-)

 

Howth harbour county Dublin Ireland. 12th of April 2013. The small island in the background is Ireland's eye. It has a 'tear', and a Martello tower.

Maureen my wife on Howth pier with Ireland's eye island in the background. 12th April 2013.

Martello tower on Ireland's eye, island. From Howth pier.,

Guerilla Gardening 2013.

Wildflowers are fairly easy to grow and many are self propagating which means you can collect the seeds at the end of the flowering season and multiply your collection year by year. Cornflowers, pot marigolds, nasturtiums and poppies etc., make a colourful display in no time at all.

Guerilla gardening enhances your local environment and keeps you fit for free! :-)

Letters From Graceland 1961.

This article appeared in The News of the World, 1997. In the UK and Ireland. 4.5 million copies were sold at that time.
The story continued in The Irish Times and on RTE1 Radio. 
It lead to my wife and I winning a trip to Graceland. An invitation to The International Conference on Elvis Presley at Mississippi University 1999, a weeks stay in Memphis as a guest of an Elvis cousin 2002, Then a statue of Elvis in Tupelo Mississippi 2003, involvement in the 'My Happiness' and Ed Leek story 2010, and sale of 'That's All Right', by Whyte's auctioneers in Dublin recently!

There is a lot more but you would just not believe it!

Film script writers and TV documentary makers would be most welcome.
Maurice_Colgan@yahoo.com

Irelandtoo

Sand dunes at Malahide county Dublin Ireland. Last weekend.


Discovering Ireland is again on the cards as the sunshine has arrived here in Ireland

Howth county Dublin as seen from Malahide.

Where my wife Maureen and I live. Swords county Dublin Ireland, ancient Round Tower. Hundreds of years old.

Srds

Swords  Round Tower

An Extraordinary Elvis Presley Related Story.

Back in early January 1997 I sent copies of handwritten letters my wife Maureen and I had received from Graceland in 1961, to Pat Kenny on RTE1 Radio. Pat read out the letters that had been authenticated by Sothebys Auctioneers of London, UK., on Elvis Presley's birthday the 8th January 1997. That year was the 20th anniversary of Elvis's tragic death, a landmark time to, at last, release the story to the media. The song "His Latest Flame", by Elvis was played that morning. It was the first ever publicity for the letters from Elvis. A great deal of newspaper coverage followed, notably The Irish Times, and, The News of the World, in the UK., and Ireland. http://www.rockabillyhall.com/ElvisLetters.html Tells and illustrates a portion of the story.

Janos (Joannes, John) De Tahy (1865-1928) Hungarian born artist. Famous for his allegorical paintings depicting the great composers. His paintings were very popular in the USA, where he lived. The print above is an example. I love the idea of a flute playing nymph seducing Beethoven. :-) As the owner of the New York print, I welcome comments and information about the artist. Maurice_Colgan@yahoo.com

Beethoven's "Irish" Symphony.

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.

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.

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.