Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008

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Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Country	Ireland
National preselection
Preselection process	Eurosong 2008
Preselection date(s)	23 February 2008
Selected entrant	Dustin the Turkey
Selected song	Irelande Douze Pointe
Finals performance
Semi-final result	Failed to qualify (15th)
Final result	N/A

Ireland chose Dustin the Turkey and his song "Irelande Douze Pointe" as their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. Ireland failed to qualify for the final after partaking in the first of two semi-finals in Belgrade, Serbia on May 20.

[edit] Background

After a disappointing last place result in the 2007 contest, RTÉ assembled a committee of music and media professionals–including 1992 Eurovision winner Linda Martin–to review the broadcaster's strategy for selecting an entry for the 2008 entry. The committee's suggestions prompted RTÉ to organize a new competition, to be entitled Eurosong 2008. While similar in structure to the National Song Contest which selected some of Ireland's Eurovision entries in the past, the new Eurosong 2008 will also take "visual presentation" into consideration when selecting entries.

[edit] Selection process

The deadline for submissions passed on 21 January 2008. RTÉ received some 150 submissions, including one written by Karl Broderick, who composed "Love?", Ireland's 2005 entry. A five-person panel presented a shortlist of entries to a "final judging committee." This committee then selected the six entries that will compete in Eurosong, which RTÉ will broadcast from the University Hall in Limerick on 23 February 2008.^[1] Irish television and radio presenter Ray D'Arcy will host the event.^[2] The University Hall was also the site of Ireland's 1994 national final, during which a panel of regional juries selected "Rock 'n' Roll Kids" to represent Ireland that year. For the 2008 contest, however, the winning song was selected by televoting. ^[3]

Ireland's Eurovision representatives in 2003, 2004 and 2005 were contestants from RTÉ's You're A Star television competition. In 2006 and 2007 the selection process for the performer was done internally by RTÉ, with the public selecting the song to be performed.

The Irish song had to qualify from the first of two semi-finals, which was held on 20 May 2008.^[4]

[edit] Possibility of Romanian/Slovenian song

Slovenian singer Maja Slatinšek's entry "Time to Rise" was also submitted as a possible entry to represent Slovenia and Romania. Slovenian broadcaster RTVSLO did not select the song for its national final. After learning that her song was accepted by both RTÉ and Romanian broadcaster TVR, she withdrew "Time to Rise" from the Romanian selection process. She stated that her song has a better chance to go to Belgrade as one of the six Irish songs, rather than competing against 23 others in Romania.^[5] Irish singer-songwriter Marc Roberts represented Ireland in the 1997 contest. His song "Mysterious Woman" came in 2nd place with 157 points, and gave Ireland its last top-five result to date.^[6]

[edit] Contenders

[edit] Winner

Dustin the Turkey won the Eurosong 2008 contest. He went on to represent Ireland in the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2008, held in Belgrade, Serbia on May 20.

[edit] Semi-final result

Ireland failed to qualify for the final after partaking in the first of the semi-finals, finishing 15th out of 19 songs with a total of 22 points awarded by 9 countries - Spain, Belgium, The Netherlands, Israel, Norway, Finland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro and with the highest individual score, 7 points, coming from Estonia. ^[7] RTE commentator, Marty Whelan expressed his utter shock live on air. BBC3 presenter Paddy O'Connell remarked on hearing boo'ing from the audience during the performance and also claimed that the entry may have violated competition rules given that there were seven performers on stage (one more than the maximum allowed)

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest

[edit] External links