TG4 announced via Instagram that, as of 1st June 2024, this year’s edition of Junior Eurovision Éire has commenced filming. Brooke Scullion, who represented Ireland at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, will appear as a judge.
Ireland returns to Junior Eurovision in 2024
Irish-language broadcaster TG4 has organized Ireland’s Junior Eurovision participation since their debut in 2015. Following a disappointing last-place finish at the 2023 contest in Nice, Ireland will return to the contest this year in Madrid, and will continue to produce the national final Junior Eurovision Éire. Junior Eurovision Éire has been used to select the Irish Junior Eurovision singer in every Junior Eurovision in which Ireland has participated to date.
Brooke Scullion, who represented Ireland at Eurovision 2022 with “That’s Rich”, will once again appear as a guest judge this year. Applications opened in March; TG4 has opted to pare down the contest this year, with only 10 acts being selected. While no specific premiere date has been confirmed by TG4, the program will air in the fall.
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 eight times. Their best placement came in 2022, when Sophie Lennon finished in fourth place with her song “Solas”.
In 2023, Jessica McKean represented Ireland in Nice with her song “Aisling”. She finished 16th in a field of 16, earning 42 points; 8 points came from the professional juries, whilst the remaining 34 were from the online vote.
Are you excited to see Ireland participate at Junior Eurovision this year? Who would you like to see represent them in Madrid? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky as we head towards Junior Eurovision 2024!
News Source: TG4
Photo Credit: Brian Brophy (1Image Photography/TG4)
Tim J