Irish broadcaster RTร announced earlier this year that it would return to a national final format to select its Eurovision 2022 entry. This week, they revealed more details about how the selection will take place.
Ireland’s National Final in 2022
As announced earlier, Ireland will host a national final through the popular chat show The Late Late Show. This marks the first time since 2015 that Ireland will use a national final to select its Eurovision entry. Head of Delegation Michael Kealy told The Euro Trip podcast in an interview this week that RTร is aiming for the final to take place on 21st January, but did not confirm this date.
He also stated that the goal is to have some combination of a national jury, an international jury, and a public vote to determine the winner. Again, confirmation of any concrete details is still to come.
In the same interview, Kealy revealed that RTร has received over 320 entries since the start of the submission period. The ultimate winner of Ireland’s national final will be announced during a Late Late Show Eurovision special. This marks the first time since 2015 that Ireland will use a national final to select its Eurovision entry. That year, Molly Sterling represented the nation with “Playing with Numbers”.
Ireland’s Eurovision Journey
Ireland debuted at Eurovision in 1965 with Butch Moore’s “Walking the Streets in the Rain”, which finished in sixth place. They have gone on to win the contest a record seven times, most recently with Eimear Quinn’s “The Voice” in 1996. Though they have been less successful in recent years, they have still turned out memorable entries such as Ryan O’Shaughnessy’s “Together”, which qualified for the Grand Final in 2018 and finished in 16th place.
Most recently, Lesley Roy represented Ireland at Eurovision 2021 with the song “Maps”. Her ambitious staging ultimately was not enough to qualify Ireland to the Grand Final. However, “Maps”, along with her 2020 entry “Story of My Life”, have both become fan-favourites.
Are you excited for Ireland’s national final? Who would you like to represent Ireland at Eurovision? Let us know in the comments or on social. Be sure to follow THAT Eurovision Site on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
News Sources: The Euro Trip podcast, Eurovoix
Photo Source: EBU / Andres Putting
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