Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Encyclopedia
Ireland competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow
, Russia
. The country was represented by Sinéad Mulvey
& Black Daisy
with their song "Et Cetera
".
(RTÉ), the Irish broadcaster would select the Irish entry for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. RTÉ had had plans to have a large-scale national final like that of last year's contest. However the current financial situation in Ireland have made this impossible, and it was debatable whether a national final would be held at all, with an internal selection by RTÉ to be held instead. Despite this, RTÉ were set to have a national final for their selection, which would be similar to that seen in 2006 and 2007, when the national final was held as part of popular entertainment show The Late Late Show
. The provisional date was set at 20 February 2009.
Although a national final was to be planned, it was rumoured that RTÉ were in the middle of talks with three-time former winner Johnny Logan
. It had been rumoured that, in exchange for his own television show, Logan would return to Eurovision and represent Ireland at the 2009 contest in Moscow. Logan had previously said that he would have represented Ireland at the 2007 contest
, however a deal between Logan and RTÉ was not reached at that time. Eoghan Quigg
, who came third in the 2008 series
of The X Factor
, has also stated that he would like to represent Ireland at Eurovision.
RTÉ officially confirmed that a national final, called Eurosong 2009, would be held to choose the Irish representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, and that no internal selection would be held. Like in 2006 and 2007, the was be held on 20 February on a special edition
of The Late Late Show
.
Pat Kenny
, host of The Late Late Show and of Eurosong 2009, revealed that six acts will compete in the contest, with the winner being decided by a mixture of televoting and the votes of regional juries from around Ireland. A jury selected six competing acts from those sent into RTÉ, which will be headed by former Eurovision winner Linda Martin
. Over 300 entries were received by RTÉ before the deadline for entries on 2 February.
n singer Kristīna Zaharova. The song, composed by Lauris Reiniks
and Gordon Pogoda
, was initially included in the line-up of the Latvian national final
, however was also entered into the Irish selection. Reiniks therefore decided to withdraw his song from the Latvian selection in favour for the Irish national final.
The complete list of finalists, as well as the running order, was released on 13 February 2009, one week before the show. The songs were first heard on The Derek Mooney Show on RTÉ Radio One on 19 February, one day before the final. During the show it was confirmed that both jury and televoting will be used during the show, in a 50/50 split. Four juries from around Ireland, in Sligo
, Dublin, Cork
and Limerick
, will give 1 to 10 points to each song. Televoting will make the final 50% of the results, giving a maximum of 40 points to the favoured song.
During the show a panel will be present to offer their opinions on the six songs. The three panel members, as revealed by RTÉ, will be Eurovision commentator Marty Whelan
, the 1992 Eurovision
winner and head of the selection panel Linda Martin, and famous American talk-show and talent show host Jerry Springer
.
The winner of Eurosong was Sinéad Mulvey
and Black Daisy
with "Et Cetera
", which received 38 out of 40 from the four juries, and the maximum 40 points from the televote.
, Netherlands
on 18 April, and also at the UKEurovision Preview Party in London
on 17 April.
Before heading to Moscow, Sinéad and Black Daisy one again performed on The Late Late Show on 1 May. RTÉ also broadcast the EBU "Eurovision: Countdown" preview shows before the week of the contest.
and preceding Latvia
. The group failed to qualify Ireland to the final for the second consecutive time.
In the final of the contest, the Irish votes will be presented by Irish TV personality Derek Mooney
, who previously did the same in 2000. RTÉ had released the names of the five jurors which will make up half of the Irish votes in the final, along with televoting. They are former Eurovision winners Linda Martin
(ESC 1992
) and Paul Harrington (ESC 1994
), producer Bill Hughes
, singer and TV personality Emma O'Driscoll
and singer/songwriter Luan Parle
.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The country was represented by Sinéad Mulvey
Sinéad Mulvey
Sinéad Mulvey is an Irishprofessional singer & air hostess who, alongside Black Daisy, represented her country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the pop-rock song "Et Cetera"...
& Black Daisy
Black Daisy
Black Daisy was an Irish band that, along with Sinéad Mulvey represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song Et Cetera.- Biography :...
with their song "Et Cetera
Et Cetera (song)
"Et Cetera" is a song by Irish singer Sinéad Mulvey and rock band Black Daisy that represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia...
".
Eurosong 2009
It was unknown for some time how Radio Telefís ÉireannRaidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
(RTÉ), the Irish broadcaster would select the Irish entry for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. RTÉ had had plans to have a large-scale national final like that of last year's contest. However the current financial situation in Ireland have made this impossible, and it was debatable whether a national final would be held at all, with an internal selection by RTÉ to be held instead. Despite this, RTÉ were set to have a national final for their selection, which would be similar to that seen in 2006 and 2007, when the national final was held as part of popular entertainment show The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
. The provisional date was set at 20 February 2009.
Although a national final was to be planned, it was rumoured that RTÉ were in the middle of talks with three-time former winner Johnny Logan
Johnny Logan (singer)
Johnny Logan , is an Australian-born Irish singer and composer. He is regarded as "Mister Eurovision", having participated in the Eurovision Song Contest many times since the 1970s, and, since 1992, has been the most successful artist in Eurovision history.Logan has won the international contest on...
. It had been rumoured that, in exchange for his own television show, Logan would return to Eurovision and represent Ireland at the 2009 contest in Moscow. Logan had previously said that he would have represented Ireland at the 2007 contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2007
The Eurovision Song Contest 2007 was the 52nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It was won by first-time appearance as an independent country Serbia and was held at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland from 10 May to 12 May. The host broadcaster was YLE.Finland earned the right to host...
, however a deal between Logan and RTÉ was not reached at that time. Eoghan Quigg
Eoghan Quigg
Eoghan Quigg is an Irish pop singer and occasional actor from Dungiven in Northern Ireland, who finished third in the fifth series of the British television music talent contest The X Factor in 2008...
, who came third in the 2008 series
The X Factor (UK series 5)
The fifth UK series of The X Factor was broadcast on ITV in 2008. The series started on 16 August and was won by Alexandra Burke on 13 December, with new judge Cheryl Cole emerging as the winning mentor. Auditions in front of producers were held in April/May, with callbacks in front of the judges...
of The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
, has also stated that he would like to represent Ireland at Eurovision.
RTÉ officially confirmed that a national final, called Eurosong 2009, would be held to choose the Irish representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, and that no internal selection would be held. Like in 2006 and 2007, the was be held on 20 February on a special edition
The Late Late Show (season 46)
The 46th season of The Late Late Show, the world's longest-running chat show, began on 5 September 2008. It aired on RTÉ One each Friday evening from 21:30. The series marked the first occasion on which regular host Pat Kenny was absent, following the unexpected death of his mother. Gerry Ryan...
of The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
.
Pat Kenny
Pat Kenny
Patrick "Pat" Kenny is an Irish broadcaster and former disc jockey and continuity announcer. He is employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is their highest paid presenter. He presents Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday morning between 10:00 and midday...
, host of The Late Late Show and of Eurosong 2009, revealed that six acts will compete in the contest, with the winner being decided by a mixture of televoting and the votes of regional juries from around Ireland. A jury selected six competing acts from those sent into RTÉ, which will be headed by former Eurovision winner Linda Martin
Linda Martin
Linda Martin is an Irish singer and television presenter. She is best known in Europe as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992, with the song "Why Me?", and in Ireland as a member of the 1970s/1980s band, Chips.-Chips:Martin started off her musical career when she joined the band Chips...
. Over 300 entries were received by RTÉ before the deadline for entries on 2 February.
The final
The first entry to be confirmed to be competing at Eurosong 2009 was "I Wish I Could Pretend" by LatviaLatvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n singer Kristīna Zaharova. The song, composed by Lauris Reiniks
Lauris Reiniks
Lauris Reiniks is Latvian pop music singer, songwriter, television host and actor. Lauris was educated at the Jelgava Music college in Latvia and the University of Latvia, but acting skills have been honed in Los Angeles, California. He has released 7 solo albums...
and Gordon Pogoda
Gordon Pogoda
Gordon Pogoda is an American composer, lyricist, and producer based in Los Angeles. In the past five years, he has signed publishing deals with EMI Music, Universal Music and Warner Chappell Music.- Biography :...
, was initially included in the line-up of the Latvian national final
Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Latvia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, marking its tenth entrance to Eurovision. Originally, after budget cuts were made by the Latvian government on the Latvian broadcaster, Latvijas Televīzija , announced plans to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Russia, but on...
, however was also entered into the Irish selection. Reiniks therefore decided to withdraw his song from the Latvian selection in favour for the Irish national final.
The complete list of finalists, as well as the running order, was released on 13 February 2009, one week before the show. The songs were first heard on The Derek Mooney Show on RTÉ Radio One on 19 February, one day before the final. During the show it was confirmed that both jury and televoting will be used during the show, in a 50/50 split. Four juries from around Ireland, in Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
, Dublin, Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
and Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, will give 1 to 10 points to each song. Televoting will make the final 50% of the results, giving a maximum of 40 points to the favoured song.
During the show a panel will be present to offer their opinions on the six songs. The three panel members, as revealed by RTÉ, will be Eurovision commentator Marty Whelan
Marty Whelan
Martin 'Marty' Whelan is a Jacob's Award-winning Irish radio and television personality currently working for Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Frequently seen and heard on RTÉ radio and television, he has presented a variety of shows...
, the 1992 Eurovision
Eurovision Song Contest 1992
The Eurovision Song Contest 1992 was the 37th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 9 May 1992 in Malmö, Sweden. The presenters were Lydia Cappolicchio and Harald Treutiger. Linda Martin, representing Ireland, was the winner of this Eurovision with the song Why Me?. The song was written by Johnny...
winner and head of the selection panel Linda Martin, and famous American talk-show and talent show host Jerry Springer
Jerry Springer
Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer is a British-born American television presenter, best known as host of the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show since its debut in 1991...
.
The winner of Eurosong was Sinéad Mulvey
Sinéad Mulvey
Sinéad Mulvey is an Irishprofessional singer & air hostess who, alongside Black Daisy, represented her country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the pop-rock song "Et Cetera"...
and Black Daisy
Black Daisy
Black Daisy was an Irish band that, along with Sinéad Mulvey represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song Et Cetera.- Biography :...
with "Et Cetera
Et Cetera (song)
"Et Cetera" is a song by Irish singer Sinéad Mulvey and rock band Black Daisy that represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia...
", which received 38 out of 40 from the four juries, and the maximum 40 points from the televote.
| Draw | Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) | Jury | Televote | Total | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M.N.A. | "Flying" | Ronan McCormack | 15 | 8 | 23 | 6 |
| 2 | Laura-Jayne Hunter Laura-Jayne Hunter Laura-Jayne Hunter is a British singer who lives and works in Leeds, England. Hunter holds a first class honours degree in popular music from the Leeds College of Music and was crowned winner of the Bright Young Things songwriter/performer competition in Leeds in 2008... |
"Out of Control" | Derry O'Donovan | 9 | 32 | 41 | 3 |
| 3 | Lee Bradshaw | "So What" | Billy Larkin, Kevin Breathnach | 10 | 16 | 26 | 4 |
| 4 | Johnny Brady | "Amazing" | Tony Adams Rosa | 20 | 4 | 24 | 5 |
| 5 | Kristīna Zaharova | "I Wish I Could Pretend" | Lauris Reiniks Lauris Reiniks Lauris Reiniks is Latvian pop music singer, songwriter, television host and actor. Lauris was educated at the Jelgava Music college in Latvia and the University of Latvia, but acting skills have been honed in Los Angeles, California. He has released 7 solo albums... , Gordon Pogoda Gordon Pogoda Gordon Pogoda is an American composer, lyricist, and producer based in Los Angeles. In the past five years, he has signed publishing deals with EMI Music, Universal Music and Warner Chappell Music.- Biography :... |
32 | 24 | 56 | 2 |
| 6 | Sinéad Mulvey Sinéad Mulvey Sinéad Mulvey is an Irishprofessional singer & air hostess who, alongside Black Daisy, represented her country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the pop-rock song "Et Cetera"... & Black Daisy Black Daisy Black Daisy was an Irish band that, along with Sinéad Mulvey represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song Et Cetera.- Biography :... |
"Et Cetera" | Niall Mooney, Jonas Gladnikoff Jonas Gladnikoff Jonas Gladnikoff is a songwriter and music producer from Stockholm, Sweden. He has written several songs for singers from across Europe, but is best known for writing entries for the Eurovision Song Contest and for various national pre-selections... , Daniele Moretti, Christina Schilling Christina Schilling Christina Schilling is a songwriter, singer and musician from Denmark. As a songwriter Christina Schilling has worked with artists and producers from Europe as well as the USA. As a singer she has been singing on classical albums, in musicals and recorded with world music artists. Her voice can... |
38 | 40 | 78 | 1 |
Voting
| Song | Juries | Televote | Total | Place | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cork Cork (city) Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban... |
Sligo Sligo Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht... |
Limerick Limerick Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the... |
Dublin | Total | ||||
| "Flying" | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 6 |
| "Out of Control" | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 32 | 41 | 3 |
| "So What" | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 4 |
| "Amazing" | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 20 | 4 | 24 | 5 |
| "I Wish I Could Pretend" | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 32 | 24 | 56 | 2 |
| "Et Cetera" | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 38 | 40 | 78 | 1 |
Before Eurovision
It has not been planned by RTÉ to have a large promotional campaign of the Irish entry, due to budget constraints. However Sinéad and Black Daisy performed twice for an international audience; at the Eurovision Promo Concert in AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
on 18 April, and also at the UKEurovision Preview Party in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 17 April.
Before heading to Moscow, Sinéad and Black Daisy one again performed on The Late Late Show on 1 May. RTÉ also broadcast the EBU "Eurovision: Countdown" preview shows before the week of the contest.
At Eurovision
Since Ireland is not one of the "Big Four" and is not the host of the 2009 contest, it had to compete in one of the two semi-finals. Sinéad and Black Daisy competed in the second semi-final on 14 May, where they performed second in the running order, following CroatiaCroatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
and preceding Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
. The group failed to qualify Ireland to the final for the second consecutive time.
In the final of the contest, the Irish votes will be presented by Irish TV personality Derek Mooney
Derek Mooney
Derek James Mooney is an Irish radio and television presenter, as well as a radio producer. He currently presents a weekday afternoon programme called Mooney on RTÉ Radio 1....
, who previously did the same in 2000. RTÉ had released the names of the five jurors which will make up half of the Irish votes in the final, along with televoting. They are former Eurovision winners Linda Martin
Linda Martin
Linda Martin is an Irish singer and television presenter. She is best known in Europe as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992, with the song "Why Me?", and in Ireland as a member of the 1970s/1980s band, Chips.-Chips:Martin started off her musical career when she joined the band Chips...
(ESC 1992
Eurovision Song Contest 1992
The Eurovision Song Contest 1992 was the 37th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 9 May 1992 in Malmö, Sweden. The presenters were Lydia Cappolicchio and Harald Treutiger. Linda Martin, representing Ireland, was the winner of this Eurovision with the song Why Me?. The song was written by Johnny...
) and Paul Harrington (ESC 1994
Eurovision Song Contest 1994
The Eurovision Song Contest 1994 was the 39th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 30 April 1994 in the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. The presenters were Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and Gerry Ryan. The pair hosted the evening in French, English and Irish...
), producer Bill Hughes
Bill Hughes
William Frederick Hughes CBE QPM was Director General of Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency until his retirement on 31 August 2010, when he was succeeded by his deputy Trevor Pearce. He was formerly Director General of the National Crime Squad, until its merger with SOCA on April 1, 2006...
, singer and TV personality Emma O'Driscoll
Emma O'Driscoll
Emma Louise O'Driscoll is a former Irish pop star, turned children's television presenter and reality television personality. She rose to fame in the 2001–2002 RTÉ One television series Popstars, in which she was selected as a member of the band Six...
and singer/songwriter Luan Parle
Luan Parle
Luán Maureen Parle is an Irish Singer/Songwriter / Producer.-Early life:First Impressions was Luán Parle’s début album release after signing to Recording Studios atthe age of 12 following an appearance on The Late Late Toy Show....
.