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Book: Sounds Irish, Acts Global

Chapter: The 1950s: Elvis and Ireland’s Catholic Pop

DOI: 10.1558/equinox.36034

Blurb:

When Elvis Presley was at the forefront of youthful rock ‘n’ roll in the US, he appeared on the influential Ed Sullivan Show. A singing group from Ireland appeared on the show with Elvis. The contrast was startling, and it revealed a lot about the cultural chasm between Ireland and the epicentre of pop music. In particular, it highlighted the generally unexplored, yet powerful, bond between the Catholic church and the pop industry in Ireland.

Chapter Contributors

  • Michael Mary Murphy (michael.murphy@iadt.ie - michaelmurphy) 'Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dublin'