The semi-final of Junior Eurovision Éire – Ireland’s national selection for Junior Eurovision – has taken place, where the finalists still in the running to represent Ireland has been revealed.
Junior Eurovision Éire 2023 Semi-Final – a recap
The fourth heat of Junior Eurovision Éire was broadcast on Sunday (October 1st) on TG4 after the heats and semi-finals were filmed previously. Presenters Louise Cantillon and Darragh Ó Caoimh made a return as hosts for the show, reprising their role from 2022. The competing artists and the results are as follows:
| Order | Artist | Song Performed (in Irish) | Result |
| 1 | Jessica McKean | “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver | Qualified (Jury’s Choice) |
| 2 | Clare Keeley | “Chandelier” by Sia | Qualified (Automatic) |
| 3 | Liza O´Neill | “Eyes Closed” by Ed Sheeran | Eliminated |
| 4 | Juliette Maguire | “Wake Me Up” by Avicii | Eliminated |
| 5 | Gillian Brennan | “Grace” by Lewis Capaldi | Eliminated |
| 6 | Niamh Beatrix Smith | “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons | Qualified (Automatic) |
| 7 | Ellen McGloughin | “Lost Without You” by Freya Ridings | Eliminated |
| 8 | Sarah Burke | “The Joker and The Queen” by Ed Sheeran feat. Taylor Switft | Eliminated |
Similar to previous editions of the national selection, two permanent judges were joined by a special guest judge. For Heat Four, the judges were:
- Niamh Nà ChróinÃn – presenter, manager of Raidió RÃ-Rá
- Aindri̼ de Paor Р2FM DJ
- Brian Kennedy – Ireland’s representative for Eurovision 2006 with “Every Song Is A Cry For Love”
The next episode of Junior Eurovision Éire will be broadcast next Sunday, October 8th, where Ireland’s representative for Nice will be selected.
As with last year, the viewers will decide Ireland’s representative for Yerevan. The online voting is now open on tg4.ie/junioreurovision. Viewers can only vote once per hour per IP address, and the voting will close at the 2nd part of the final when all three finalists have performed twice in next week’s final.
Ireland’s Junior Eurovision Journey
Ireland first participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2015. Débuting alongside Australia, Ireland was represented by Aimee Banks singing ” Réalta na Mara”. At the close of voting, Ireland finished in 12th place – receiving 36 points. Ireland has since participated a further seven times. Their best placement came in 2022, when Sophie Lennon finished in fourth place with her song “Solas”.
In 2022, Sophie Lennon represented Ireland in Yerevan with her song “Solas”. Ireland’s most recent participation, she finished 4th in a field of 16, earning 150 points. Of these, 88 came from professional juries, whilst the remaining 62 were from the online vote.
Are you looking forward to what Ireland will bring to Junior Eurovision 2023? What is your favourite Irish Junior Eurovision entry? Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky as we gear up for Junior Eurovision 2023!
News Source: TG4
Photo Credit: TG4
