With the launch of its autumn 2019 schedule, RTÉ has confirmed that it will be participating in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020.
This week has seen the Irish national broadcaster launch its schedule for autumn 2019, and with it, it has confirmed that the Eurovision Song Contest will once again be on Irish television screens. The broadcaster will be competing in the 2020 contest in the Netherlands in May.
2020 will mark the 54th time that Ireland has competed in the Eurovision Song Contest. The nation which currently holds the record for the most victories in the competition, saw its worst result to date at the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Sarah McTernan and “22” finished last in Semi-Final Two, scoring just 16 points. Ireland received 13 points from the juries; 5 points from Moldova and 8 points from Italy. While the United Kingdom awarded 3 points in the televote.
Source: RTÉ
Ireland debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965 and is currently the most successful country to have participated in the contest, winning a total of seven times. During the 1990’s Ireland was a powerhouse in the contest becoming the first country to win three years in a row from 1992 to 1994. Since 2000 Ireland has struggled in the contest having qualified from the semi-final into the final just six out of a possible 13 times. Ireland’s last top 10 result came in 2011 when Jedward finished 8th in Dusseldorf.