Ireland - Niamh Kavanagh

This year Ireland's hopes rest on a past winner of the competition Niamh Kavanagh who triumped in 1993 with the song 'In Your Eyes'.  She beat amongst others Boyzone star Mikey Graham in the Irish domestic finals to sing 'It's For You' which won maximun points on the RTE show from both the judges and the voting public.  Ireland are confident that Niamh will herald a return to Ireland's unrivalled position in Eurovision, with a steady confidence rising that she will be able to bring the trophy home.

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Ireland Eurovision History

Since Ireland made its Eurovision debut in the song contest in1965, Ireland has been one of the most consistent entries in the contest winning the event a record seven times. It has even been joked that due to the expense of the winner hosting the event Ireland have put in deliberately poor efforts in recent years to save money, this was famously parodied in a episode of Father Ted.

Current Decade Placing

  • 2009 11th place with 52 points
  • 2008 Did not qualify from Semi Finals - Dustin the Turkey
  • 2007 24th place with 5 points - Dervish
  • 2006 10th place with 93 points - Brian Kennedy
  • 2005 Did not qualify from Semi Finals - Donna & Josepth McCaul
  • 2004 22nd place with 7 points - Chris Doran
  • 2003 11th place with 53 points - Micky Joe Harte
  • 2002 Did not enter.
  • 2001 21st place with 6 points - Gary O'Shaughnessy
  • 2000 6th place with 92 points - Eamonn Toal

Notable Past Entiries

The golden years for Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest were the 80's and 90's with Ireland winning it six times in that period and coming 2nd on several occasions.

  • 1997 2nd place with 157 points - Marc Roberts
  • 1996 1st place with 162 points - Eimear Quinn
  • 1994 1st place with 226 points - Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan
  • 1993 1st place with 187 points - Niama Kavanagh
  • 1992 1st place with 155 points - Linda Martin
  • 1990 2nd place with 132 points - Liam Reilly
  • 1987 1st place with 172 points - Johnny Logan
  • 1984 2nd place with 137 points - Linda Martin
  • 1980 1st place with 143 points - Johnny Logan
  • 1977 3rd place with 119 points - The Swarbriggs Plus Two
  • 1970 1st place with *32 points - Dana

* The voting in 1970 was that each country had 10 jury members who each awarded 1 point to their favourite song.

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