TG4, the Irish-language broadcaster, has revealed the participants in the first heat of Junior Eurovision Éire 2019, which will be broadcast this Sunday.
The seven acts in the first heat are:
- Anna Kearney
- Aoife McNelis
- Arabella Dolan
- Ciara McShane
- Riaghan Boardman
- Joya Hobson & Priya Hobson
- Mollie Kennedy
The participants will sing Irish covers of well known English-language songs as they compete to advance to the next round. The results of all the shows will be decided by an in-studio jury Gráinne Bleasdale will return to the jury for the second year. Replacing Fiachna Ó Braonáin, who had previously been on the jury since 2016, will be RTÉ 2fm presenter Chris Greene. Gráinne and Chris will also be joined by a guest judge each week, all of whom have previously represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest. The guest judges are Brendan Murray (2017), Charlie McGettigan (1994) and Jedward (2011 and 2012), Linda Martin (1983 and 1992) & Niamh Kavanagh (1993 and 2010). Eoghan McDermott will return to present the show for the fifth year running.
Ireland was represented by Taylor Hynes at Junior Eurovision 2018 in Minsk, Belarus. He performed the song “IOU” and went on to finish 15th with a total of 48 points. Ireland was 16th with juries scoring 12 points and 15th with the online vote receiving 36 points.
Source: Junior Eurovision Éire
Ireland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Ireland debuted in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest at the 2015 contest in Sofia, Bulgaria. The countries participation is organised by the Irish language broadcaster, TG4. At the 2015 contest in Bulgaria Ireland was represented by Aimee Banks with the song “Réalta na Mara”, she finished 12th in the final. The country’s best result came at the 2016 contest in Malta. Ireland was represented by Zena Donnelly with the song “Bríce ar Bhríce”. She finished 10th in the final scoring a total of 122 points, including receiving the countries first 12 points in the contest.
