Calling all blue suede shoes to the Elvis festival

VIVA Bundoran? Bless my soul but it could take a bit of getting used to.

With a few dozen (if not hundred) Elvises in town, days on end of poker-playing, and the famed seaside slot machines it could be the nearest post-boom Ireland comes to Las Vegas.

The Co Donegal town will be all shook up from October 31 to November 2 when blue suede shoes will take over the floors of the local pleasure-houses for the search to find Ireland’s best tribute act.

Fans won’t be lonesome on any of the three nights with thousands expected to attend the grand final of the Paddy Power Bundoran Elvis Festival.

Also included in the schedule is a three-day Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland.

The festival is being organised by Peter Phillips, who runs a similar event every year in the Welsh seaside town of Porthcawl.

He was also the brains behind the annual Tedfest in honour of Father Ted.

He just can’t help believing Bundoran will get the fever for the big weekend.

“I’ve wanted to bring the formula we use in Porthcawl over to Ireland for quite a while,” said Mr Phillips, who organised the recent Father Ted milkfloat charity jaunt along with Paddy Power and Down Syndrome Ireland.

“When we pushed the milkfloat through Bundoran I felt it was the perfect setting.”

Down Syndrome Ireland’s Padraic Delaney said they were “delighted” to be involved.

“We’re still revelling in the success of the recent round-Ireland Father Ted Milkfloat Push and we hope to capture some of the magic of that special event in Bundoran this October.”

Donegal native Tánaiste Mary Coughlan unveiled a replica ‘Welcome to Las Vegas’ sign yesterday on the outskirts of Bundoran, to kick off preparations for the festival as the bookmaker’s spokesman Paddy Power, watched.

“Treat me nice,” the Tánaiste was probably thinking as the photographers zoomed in.

Bookings are being taken for the weekend by the Heartbreak Hotel (McEniff Great Northern) so for Elvis devotees, it’s now or never.

* www.lasbundoran.com