Eurovision – 🇮🇪 Ireland

Ireland has competed in Eurovision since 1965 and was a powerhouse of the Song Contest in the 1990s, the country has participated in numerous Eurovision family events as well.

Ireland in Eurovision

Ireland debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965 having first broadcast the contest in 1963. Ireland has won the contest seven times and holds the record as the only country to win the contest three years in a row. Ireland’s results in the contest are:

• 1965 – Butch Moore – “I’m Walking the Streets in the Rain” – 6th – 11 points
• 1066 – Dickie Rock – “Come Back to Stay” – 4th – 14 points
• 1967 – Sean Dunphy – “If I Could Choose” – 2nd – 22 points
• 1968 – Pat McGeegan – “Chance of a Lifetime” – 4th – 18 points
• 1969 – Muriel Day – “The Wages of Love” – 7th – 10 points
• 1970 – Dana – “All Kinds of Everything” – 1st – 32 points
• 1971 (Host) – Angela Farrell – “One Day Love” – 11th – 79 points
• 1972 – Sandie Jones – “Ceol an Ghrá” – 15th – 72 points
• 1973 – Maxi – “Do I Dream?” – 10th – 80 points
• 1974 – Tina Reynolds – “Cross Your Heart” – 7th – 11 points
• 1975 – The Swarbriggs – “That’s What Friends Are For” – 9th – 68 points
• 1976 – Red Hurley – “When?” – 10th – 54 points
• 1977 – The Swarbriggs Plus Two – “It’s Nice to Be in Love Again” – 3rd – 119 points
• 1978 – Colm C. T. Wilkinson – “Born to Sing” – 5th – 86 points
• 1979 – Cathal Dunne – “Happy Man” – 5th – 80 points
• 1980 – Johnny Logan – “What’s Another Year?” – 1st – 143 points
• 1981 (Host) – Sheeba – “Horoscopes” – 5th – 105 points
• 1982 – The Duskeys – “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” – 11th – 49 points
• 1984 – Linda Martin – “Terminal 3” – 2nd – 137 points
• 1985 – Maria Christian – “Wait Until the Weekend Comes” – 6th – 91 points
• 1986 – Luv Bug – “You Can Count On Me” – 4th – 96 points
• 1987 – Johnny Logan – “Hold Me Now” – 1st – 172 points
• 1988 – Jump The Gun – “Take Him Home” – 8th – 79 points
• 1989 – Kiev Connolly and the Missing Passengers – “The Real Me” – 18th – 21 points
• 1990 – Liam Reilly – “Somewhere in Europe” – 2nd – 132 points
• 1991 – Kim Jackson – “Could It Be That I’m in Love?” – 10th – 47 points
• 1992 – Linda Martin – “Why?” – 1st – 155 points
• 1993 (Host) – Niamh Kavanagh – “In Your Eyes” – 1st – 187 points
• 1994 (Host) – Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan – “Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids” – 1st -226 points
• 1995 (Host) – Eddiel Friel – “Dreamin‘” – 14th – 44 points
• 1996 – EImar Quinn – “The Voice” – 1st – 162 points
• 1997 (Host) – Marc Roberts – “Mysterious Woman” – 2nd – 157 points
• 1998 – Dawn Martin – “Is Always Over Now?” – 9th – 64 points
• 1999 – The Mullans – “When You Need Me” – 17th – 18 points
• 2000 – Eamonn Toal – “Millennium of Love” – 6th – 92 points
• 2001 – Gary O’Shaughnessy – “Without Your Love” – 21st – 6 points
• 2003 – Mickey Harte – “We’ve Got the World” – 11th – 53 points
• 2004 – Chris Doran – “If My World Stopped Turning” – 22nd – 7 points
• 2005 – Donna and Joe – “Love?” – 14th in the Semi-Final – 53 points
• 2006 – Brian Kennedy – “Every Song Is a Cry for Love” – 10th – 93 points
• 2007 – Dervish – “They Can’t Stop the Spring” – 24th – 5 points
• 2008 – Dustin the Turkey – “Irelande Douze Pointe” – 15th in the Semi-Final – 22 points
• 2009 – Sinéad Mulvey and Black Daisy – “Et Cetera” – 11th in the Semi-Final – 52 points
• 2010 – Niamh Kavanagh – “It’s for You” – 23rd – 25 points
• 2011 – Jedward – “Lipstick” – 8th – 119 points
• 2012 – Jedward – “Waterline” – 19th – 46 points
• 2013 – Ryan Dolan – “Only Love Survives” – 26th – 5 points
• 2014 – Can-linn feat. Kasey Smith – “Heartbeat” – 12th in the Semi-Final – 35 points
• 2015 – Molly Sterling – “Playing with Numbers” – 12th in the Semi-Final – 35 points
• 2016 – Nicky Byrne – “Sunlight” – 15th in the Semi-Final – 46 points
• 2017 – Brendan Murray – “Dying to Try” – 13th in the Semi-Final – 86 points
• 2018 – Ryan O’Shaughnessy – “Together” – 16th – 136 points
• 2019 – Sarah McTernan – “22” – 18th in the Semi-Final – 16 points
• 2020 – Lesley Roy – “Story of My Life” – Contest cancelled due to COVID-19
• 2021 – Lesley Roy – “Maps” – 16th in the Semi-Final – 20 points
• 2022 – Brooke – “That’s Rich” – 15th in the Semi-Final – 47 points
• 2023 – Wild Youth – “We Are One” – 12th in the Semi-Final – 10 points
• 2024 – Bambie Thug – “Doomsday Blue” – 6th – 278 points
• 2025 – Emmy – “Laika Party” – 13th in the Semi-Final – 28 points

Ireland did not compete in 1983 due to a strike at RTÉ, while in 2002 Ireland did not qualify due to its poor result in 2001. RTÉ will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in opposition to Israel’s continued participation in the competition, and it will also not air the competition.

Ireland and other Eurovision family events

Ireland has participated in four other Eurovision family events, with Irish language broadcaster TG4 behind the nation’s Junior Eurovision participation.

Eurovision Dance Contest

RTÉ participated in both editions of the Eurovision Dance Contest in 2007 and 2008. Ireland’s results in the contest were:

• 2007 – Nicola Byrne and Mick Donegan – 3rd – 95 points
• 2008 – Gavin Ó Fearraigh and Dearbhla Lennon – 11th – 40 points

Eurovision Magic Circus Show

Ireland participated in all one edition of the Eurovision Magic Circus Show in 2012. The event was held between 2010 and 2012 featuring children aged between 6 and 15 years old. The competition was hosted by the Swiss broadcaster RTS and took place in a circus tent of Circus Pajazzo in Chêne-Bougeries.

• 2012 – Patrick & Maria – Gymnastics
• 2012 – Donnacha – Diabolo

Read more below:

Eurovision Magic Circus Show

Eurovision Young Dancers

RTÉ first aired Eurovision Young Dancers in 1997, the broadcaster also aired the 1999 contest before debuting in 2001. Sarah Reynolds represented Ireland at the contest in London, she did not qualify for the final. Ireland has not participated since.

Eurovision Young Musicians

Ireland has competed in seven editions of Eurovision Young Musicians last competing in 2000. Ireland did not qualify for the final in any of its appearances in the competition.

• 1986 – Seamus Conroy (Violin) – Did not qualify
• 1988 – Dearbha Collins (Piano) – Did not qualify
• 1990 – Patricia Moynihan (Flute) – Did not qualify
• 1992 – Participant unknown – Did not qualify
• 1994 – Finghin Collins (Piano) – Did not qualify
• 1996 – Gerald Peregrine (Cello) – Did not qualify
• 1998 – Cora Venus Lunny (Violin) – Did not qualify
• 2000 – Rebecca Čápová (Piano) – Did not qualify

Junior Eurovision Song Contest

Ireland first explored participation in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2003 and 2004, however, RTÉ decided against competing. In 2014 the Irish language broadcaster TG4 looked to participate in the contest, they would make their debut in 2015.

• 2015 – Aimee Banks – “Réalta na mara” – 12th – 36 points
• 2016 – Zena Donnelly – “Bríce ar bhríce” – 10th – 122 points
• 2017 – Muireann McDonnell – “Súile glasa” – 15th – 54 points
• 2018 – Taylor Hynes – “IOU” – 15th – 48 points
• 2019 – Anna Kearney – “Banshee” – 12th – 73 points
• 2021 – Maiú Levi Lawlor – “Soar (Disappear)” – 18th – 44 points
• 2022 – Sophie Lennon – “Solas” – 4th – 150 points
• 2023 – Jessica McKean – “Aisling” – 16th – 42 points
• 2024 – Enya Cox Dempsey – “Le chéile” – 15th – 55 points
• 2025 – Lottie O’Driscoll Murray – “Rúin” – 18th – 44 points

Other Programs

The following shows were also broadcast in Ireland:

• Songs of Europe – 1981
• Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest – 2005
• Eurovision Song Contest’s Greatest Hits – 2015
• Eurovision Europe Shine a Light – 2020

Ireland & Other European Broadcasting Union Competitions

Let the Peoples Sing

The contest was first held in 1961 by the BBC as an annual choral contest for choirs in the United Kingdom, since 1966 it has been a choral competition for choirs across Europe. Since the late 1970s, the European Broadcasting Union has organised the event with choirs allowed to compete from across the globe.

Ireland aired the 2024 contest on RTÉ lyric fm.

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During the history of the Eurovision Song Contest and Eurovision family of events over fifty countries have competed, but there are more countries eligible or interested in participating. Find out more here.

Image Source: EBU/ Sarah Louise Bennett