Jedward, the duo that represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 and 2012, are set to support TG4 in finding the “Junior Eurovision winner” as the boys put it. More accurately, they’ll be aiding the search for the Irish Junior Eurovision Song Contest representative this September. Last year a national final was held in a search aided by Brian Kennedy and Niamh Kavanagh. TG4, the Irish language broadcaster, has again opted this year to hold a multi-week national selection format to choose their entrant for Junior Eurovision 2016. According to Kildare Now, the Irish selection will culminate in a final during September. Already known as two of the final thirty-two participants are Stephanie Byrne and a young girl called Susie who’s song has been written by Swedish duo Ylva & Linda. TG4 has not announced when the shows for the Irish selection will be broadcast, or a specific date for the final.
This year’s contest is set to be held in Malta on November 20th, it’ll be the second time Ireland will participate in the contest after their debut in Bulgaria last year. Aimee Banks’ performance of ‘Réalta na Mara’ stunned audiences across the globe, but failed to secure the nation with a reasonable result – finishing in twelfth place.
Jedward first participated in the X Factor UK 2008, launching their career in performing and presenting. The twins later appeared in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Dusseldorf with the song ‘Lipstick’, and 2012 Baku with the song ‘Waterline’. The boys finished on the left side of the scoreboard on both occasions, producing Ireland’s best results this decade.
[tw-accordion class=””] [tw-accordion-section title=”Ireland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest”] Ireland debuted in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest last year in Sofia, Bulgaria with the singer Aimee Banks, she performed the Irish language song “Réalta na mara (Star of the sea)”, she finished 12th with a total of 36 points.[/tw-accordion-section] [/tw-accordion]
Omigod, it’s already September. Yikes! TG4 should’ve announced the remaining finalists already!