Junior Eurovision in Nice is now less than a month away. In the lead-up to the start of rehearsals, we will get to know a bit more about this year’s artists, their discography, and their Junior Eurovision journey so far. Today, we’re getting to know Jessica McKean, who will sing “Aisling” for Ireland.
Jessica McKean’s Junior Eurovision Journey So Far…
McKean won the right to represent Ireland at JESC following an extensive national final, Junior Eurovision Éire. She performed Whitney Houston’s hit song “I Will Always Love You” in the second heat, Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love” in the semifinal, and Johnny Logan’s second Eurovision winning song “Hold Me Now” in the final. Her entry “Aisling”, which was released at the end of October, was co-written by Sophie Lennon, who represented Ireland at Junior Eurovision in 2022.
What do we think of “Aisling”?
The team at That Eurovision Site have reacted to Ireland’s entry for Nice. Tim gave his thoughts on “Aisling”, which you can check out here:
Who is Jessica McKean?
McKean is an experienced competitive singer. She won her first competition, at a Gaelic arts and culture festival, at the age of three, and went on to compete on RTÉ’s Donncha’s Two Talented. She has amassed a collection of cups and medals. Jessica also competes off the stage, however; in her small town of Lifford, she also plays football and practices gymnastics. She’s most comfortable at home on her family’s dairy farm, where she likes to practice piano, make art, and watch YouTube videos.
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, she finished in 12th place, receiving 36 points. Ireland has participated a further seven times.
Their best placement came in 2022, when Sophie Lennon finished in fourth place 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.
What do you think about “Aisling”? Can Ireland garner their first JESC win? Let us know in the comments or on social media! Be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky as we prepare for Junior Eurovision 2023!
News Source: JuniorEurovision.tv / That Eurovision Site
Photo Credit: TG4
