Road to Liverpool: Ireland

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Ireland.

Wild Youth

The national final in Ireland was won by Wild Youth. They sang the song “We are one”, which is written and composed by Conor O’Donohoe, Ed Porter and Jörgen Elofsson.

Wild Youth was formed in Dublin in 2016. The band exists of David Whelan, Conor O’Donohoe, Ed Porter and Callum McAdam. In 2017 they released their first single “All or nothing“. In 2019 they released their first album “The last goodbye”. The band toured through Ireland and the United Kingdom. Last year, they opened for Lewis Capaldi on his concerts. At the same time their song “Live without you” was a hit. In 2023 they won, as said, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Public Image Ltd.

Ireland has chosen the song through a national final called Eurosong 2023. The competition was part of the show the Late Late Show. A total of six artists and songs participated. One of the participants was a very remarkable one: the band PIL. They sang the song “Hawaii“. They became 4th. PIL (Public Image Limited) is not new to the audience. The band already had a big hit in 1983, “This is not a love song“, and “Rise” in 1984. Singer John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, also was the singer of punk band The Sex Pistols.

Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest

In 1965 Ireland debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest. They only had to wait until 1970 before Dana took the prize for the green island. The 2nd, 3rd ánd 4th victory were for mr. Eurovision himself, Johnny Logan. He sang the songs in 1980 and 1987 himself, while he composed the song for Linda Martin in 1992. That was the start of a long row of Irish victories: Niamh Kavanagh in 1993, Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan in 1994 and Eimear Quinn in 1996. Oh, and let’s not forget 1995: Norway won, but the group Secret Garden was led by the Irish violinist Fionualla Sherry. Anyway, Ireland holds the record of 7 (!!!) victories. The last few years were not so succesful for Ireland. Since 2014, only one contestant (Ryan O’Shaugnessy in 2018) reached the final.

Bookmakers

Currently, Ireland is number 23 in the betting odds. That would mean a place in the final this year. The Irish will probably be happy with a result like that.