Beatrice standing outside Graceland, Memphis.
By Róise Collins
Next year Elvis Rocking in the Hills of Donegal Fan Club will celebrate ten years since their launch.
The fan club’s president, Beatrice Farrelly, told the Donegal News about how it all started with a life changing trip to Memphis, the home of the ‘King of Rock and Roll’.
Beatrice Farrelly’s fondness with Elvis Presley started as a teenager, when the international super star stole the hearts of frantic fans across the world.
Her admiration for the rock star never faded throughout her adult life.
This inspired her lifelong dream of visiting Graceland, Memphis where he lived- a dream she was sure would never materialise.
“I always said I would go if I won the lotto, but I hardly ever do the lotto so the chances of that happening were slim,” Beatrice laughed.
But in August 2007, this dream became a reality when she visited Memphis for Elvis’s 30th anniversary as part of a group tour.
The famous Graceland estate is the second most visited house in America, after the White House.
“It was amazing to be there, to stand at his front door and walk through his house and see all his belongings and furniture. We saw his clothes, his awards, his airplanes, his cars, his limousines. We saw everything.
“I was bubbling with excitement the whole time,” she said.
There were people who had travelled from all over the world to be there for the anniversary. Beatrice explained how she was extremely moved as she listened to the many languages being spoken as they gathered at the candle lit vigil.
“I came back and I didn’t need to go anywhere else ever again, because my dream had come true,” she said.
A couple of months later, Deirdre Grant, who facilitated the tour, suggested a reunion of all of the Elvis fans who travelled to Memphis.
Over 30 people attended the reunion that was held in Jacksons Hotel in Ballybofey.
They loved Donegal, so Beatrice invited them to visit again.
They were delighted to come back, and stayed together in Loughmelia Lodge just outside Dungloe.
This became a regular gathering several times a year.
Beatrice would organise a jam packed weekend, and the group would finish their evenings in the local bar, Manus McDaid’s.
Together they would dance and sing and Manus, who is a big fan too, would play his guitar and put on his Elvis suit and sing all night.
This continued for over five years.
Beatrice standing with the Elvis statue in his birthplace, Tupelo.
Soon fans were coming from all over, as well as fans, Elvis Tribute Artists have been flown in from across the country too.
“More and more people were coming, and more and more people wanted to come,” Beatrice said.
It took her good friend Gerry Mullins to point out the obvious, “I know you’re not aware of it but this is a fan club you’re running,” he said to Beatrice.
He encouraged Beatrice to register the club with Elvis Presley Enterprises in Memphis in October 2013.
Sadly Gerry passed away just two months later at only 51 years old.
Elvis Rocking in the Hills of Donegal Fan Club was then officially launched in March 2014. We just had to go ahead and do it for Gerry, Beatrice said.
Since their launch fans have travelled from all over the world, to celebrate the life of the rockstar in the hills of Donegal.
“I’ve met a lot of great people along the way and only for Elvis I wouldn’t have meet these people, who are now friends for life,” Beatrice said.
She also warmly remembered all of the members of the fan club who have passed away since their launch.
There are strict rules for running an Elvis fan club. One very important rule is that they raise money for a charity. Since their launch almost ten years ago the group has helped countless local and national charities, raising over €32,500 to date.
Their most recent event was held in An Cúirt Hotel, Gaoth Dobhair in aid of Óisin Campbell. The fantastic Tom Gilson, an Elvis Tribute Artist was flown in especially for the event.
This was the twentieth charitable event the fan club hosted, the night was a massive success and they raised over €3,880 for a very important local cause.
She thanked everyone for their “amazing support” when she runs events, including her employer and colleagues at ProAmpac where she has worked for over 18 years.
Her enthusiasm spills beyond the fan club, she also hosted a monthly Elvis themed show on her local radio station, Rosses Radio for over five years.
“I never dreamt that all these things would happen because I visited Memphis in 2007. That trip changed my life,” she said.
Beatrice has returned to Memphis four more times since her first trip over 15 years ago. She has also visited Bad Nauheim in Germany over ten times to visit where Elvis lived and the US military base where he was stationed in the nearby town of Friedberg.
“The poor fella thought he would be forgotten when he was gone for two years in the army. Little did he know that all these years later we would still be raving about him in Donegal and all over the world,” Beatrice said.
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