TG4, the Irish-language public broadcaster, has revealed more details about Junior Eurovision Éire 2024.
Junior Eurovision Éire will undergo significant format changes in 2024. The contest will consist of five shows (in comparison to six in previous editions) and will feature ten artists, which is a significant reduction from between 24 and 32 in previous editions. In the first episode, which will air on September 15, auditions from around Ireland will be shown. At the end of the first episode, the ten artists who will compete in the live shows will be revealed.
From episodes 2 until 5, the ten artists will compete in a series of studio performances. In contrast to previous editions, the audience will be able to get to know the artists better with footage of their families and what they do in their free time. At the end of episode 5, the Irish representative for Junior Eurovision 2024 will be chosen. Their entry will then be composed for them at a later date.
The broadcast schedule for Junior Eurovision Éire 2024 is as follows:
- Show 1: September 15
- Show 2: September 22
- Show 3: September 29
- Show 4: October 6
- Grand Final: October 13
Louise Cantillon will present Junior Eurovision Éire for the fourth year in a row. Niamh Ní Chróinín will also return as a permanent judge for the fourth year in a row. The judging panel will also feature rotating guest judges. Some confirmed guest judges so far are singer Tadhg and Brooke Scullion, who represented Ireland at Eurovision 2022.
TG4 will also broadcast “Scéal Laoich” (Story of a Hero) one week before the final of Junior Eurovision 2024. “Scéal Laoich” will follow the Irish representative for Madrid as they prepare for the contest.
Jessica McKean represented Ireland at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with “Aisling”. She finished last with 42 points. This is Ireland’s worst result in the contest to date.
Image Source: EBU / Corinne Cumming | Source: ESCPlus
Ireland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Ireland debuted in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest at the 2015 contest in Sofia, Bulgaria. The nation’s 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 2022 contest in Armenia. Ireland was represented by Sophie Lennon with the song “Solas”. She finished 4th in the final, scoring a total of 150 points.
