Horslips rocker hails Elvis book with strong Westmeath links

Legendary rocker Barry Devlin of Horslips fame has hailed a new Elvis biography with strong Westmeath links as a “terrific read with fascinating research”.

He was speaking at the official launch of 'Elvis and Ireland’ by Ivor Casey at The Corner Note Café, Dalkey, a new book examining the life of the 'The King’ and his influence on the Irish music scene. It is a social study, documenting the evolution of Irish rock and pop culture and country’s response to Elvis, exploring his connections to this country through interviews, anecdotes and the effects on the Irish showband scene.

Last Friday’s launch was attended by a number of well known personalities, including artist Don Conroy, who contributed drawings for the publication, Nuala Holloway, a former Miss Ireland and a native of Mount Temple, who painted the eye catching portrait of Elvis adorning the front cover, who is also mother of the first-time author, and Oscar nominated Hollywood director, Jimmy Murakami.

Garnering plenty of positive attention of late, the new publication has received the seal of approval from some very influential people in the music world, none more so than U2 front man Bono, who bought a copy of the book in home village and has given the thumbs up to its contents, while Eamonn McCann of Hot Press, referred to it as “genuinely original” and an “enchantingly idiosyncratic work”, “startling, surprising and not without significance”. Barry Egan of The Sunday Independent said: “Casey has to be commended for a rare feat: an original book on The King”.
'Elvis and Ireland’ is now available to buy on www.amazon.com and in Eason bookshops nationwide.