Created on: 22nd February 2014



The King of rock made a visit to Belfast to promote reconciliation. A church minister, dressed as Elvis Presley, crossed a so-called peace line in Belfast in a bid to promote peace and reconciliation in the community.



The Reverend Andy Kelso fits in performances as a professional Elvis impersonator around his day job as a Church of England minister. He walked from the Falls Road - one of the city's best known republican areas - through to the Shankill Road, a strongly unionist part of west Belfast. He later staged a charity concert.





Outside the Falls Road library on Saturday morning, passers-by caught the unusual sight of the Las Vegas-era Elvis Presley, teddy bear by his side, performing some of his greatest hits.





The minister, who is visiting Northern Ireland from England, brought over his Elvis gospel-tribute act to walk and sing along the peace walls of Belfast.





Elvis made his way through the barrier that separates both communities, and on to the lower Shankill Road.

Barrier.





After posing for photos in front of the Bobby Sands mural on the Falls Road, and stopping for a chat with workers in the local café, Elvis made his way through the barrier that separates both communities, and on to the lower Shankill Road.





He then performed a charity concert in the City Life Centre, in aid of the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice.

Mr Kelso was invited to Belfast by the Townsend Street Presbyterian Church, just off the Shankill Road.

He sees the music of Elvis as a way to reach out to both communities in Northern Ireland.





"I just feel that Belfast wants and needs some joy," Mr Kelso said.





"It's had so much that's not joy, hasn't it? And so many peace initiatives have failed, but the people are so friendly. It's only a few people in life that spoil everything.





"I just think people want a reason to celebrate so it was a thrill for me and humbling to walk this peace line."

'No sectarian baggage'





Jack Lamb, minister of Townsend Street Presbyterian Church, explained why he thought Elvis was the perfect choice for the peace walk.





"One of the joys of discovering a man who is doing an Elvis tribute act is that Elvis carries no sectarian baggage," he said.





"He's equally loved on both sides of the peace line wall and to me that's thrilling because, so often when you try and organise event, you discover it's seen as either a Protestant event or a Catholic event.





"Here's someone who straddles (both) and hopefully will bring the communities a bit more together."

Posted by Amanda Hopkins

Extract from www.bbc.co.uk