The Late Late Show presenter Patrick Kielty has said that he thinks there is a song in tonight’s Eurosong that could end Ireland’s poor spell of not qualifying for the contest final.
Speaking ahead of the special edition of the show, he said, “I think – should I say this?! – I think we might have a song that could get to the final… I can’t say who that is ’cause I’m meant to be impartial, but talk to me on Saturday and I’ll tell you who I thought it was!”
When asked if he is a fan of the competition, he replied, “Yeah – look, if you’re Irish and my age, it was the glory years, wasn’t it? Where we sort of won for fun.”
The host said that while Ireland’s Eurovision experience “hasn’t been great the last few years since they brought in semi-finals and all of that stuff”, changes to this year’s Eurosong will hopefully prove that The Late Late Show is the right setting to select our entry.
“I think what we’re trying to do with the studio here is to try to make it a mini [Eurovision] set-up in terms of a bigger performance stage for [the acts] – hopefully that helps.
“This place is going to packed with Eurovision nuts… it’s going to be a proper Eurovision atmosphere – and hopefully this is kind of ‘base camp’ for a shot at the title.”
When asked about the campaign that has launched on social media to boycott Israel at the Eurovision, Kielty was clear in saying that he is not a representative for the EBU or Eurovision, but that what is going on in Gaza is “heart-breaking”.
He said, “I think what’s going on in Gaza at the minute is heart-breaking. I think what happened in Israel in October was horrific.
“I think that, like most, people, I want to see a ceasefire there as soon as we possibly can, I want to see humanitarian aid in there, I want to see hostages released, I want to see people in Gaza being able to live their lives in safety and, you know, people in Israel living in peace.
“That, as I said before, seems like a longshot, but in terms of this [Eurovision], it’s kind of somebody else’s question.”
Kielty was also asked about the cost of RTÉ taking part in Eurovision and if it is a fair use of taxpayers’ money.
“If you look at the last time we hosted it here, and that being a showcase for the best of what we do in this country in terms of culture and media and entertainment [and] if you look at what’s happening in the film industry, we’re now world leaders, people come here to shoot stuff – so I would say if we could go and win and bring it home, it’s a bargain,” he said.
Meanwhile, the six acts vying to represent Ireland also shared their thoughts ahead of performing to a huge national audience tonight.
Boyband Next in Line, whose song is titled Love Like Us, said that they very much “believe in the song”.
Band member Conor O’Farrell said the Eurovision means a lot to them.
“It’s been a family event for us growing up… we had watch parties and everything, so I have to give a special mention to my auntie Barbara for hosting it every year!
“This year more than any, the standard of the Eurosong is exceptional. I think there’s a song there for any person who likes any type of music, and we’re just so grateful to be part of that.”
The group described their entry as “a big anthem” and said they “jumped at the opportunity” to take part in the contest.
Erica Cody said that writing her song, Love Me Like I Do, made up her mind to take part. It was “written two years ago at an Irish Women in Harmony writing camp” and is “a self-love anthem” and “a nod to Irish women”.
“I always said if I was going to do Eurovision, it would have to be a song that reflects me and my artistry and my vision as an artist,” she said.
“I think it’s about time that we went to Eurovision wanting to take our crown back.”
She continued, “Last year I was just kind of like, ‘Maybe this could be something…’ I was doing the maths and I was like, ‘Hey, the last year we won was in 1996. We’re tied on wins with Sweden at the moment. [It’s] In Malmö – it’s the pop capital of the world. I was born in 1996’. I’m a big believer in signs, so I was like, ‘Do you know what? I think I have the song’.”
JyellowL, whose song Judas features singer Toshín, said, “I don’t know if the world is ready for a rap song in Eurovision, but I definitely know that they’re ready for a song like Judas because it’s not ‘just’ a rap song – it’s a full body of work in the one song!
“I’ve always wanted people to be able to recognise the quality of the music coming out of Ireland – and that’s exactly what’s happening with rap at the moment.”
The pair described themselves as “definitely very grateful to be here because of the power of the Eurovision”.
Bambie Thug, whose entry is called Doomsday Blue, said that they are inspired by everything from “rap to rock to jazz to country to classical”.
“I guess in terms of my project, visually, Lady Gaga is a big thing – but then also Black Sabbath!”
When asked about their entry, they said the song is about “anything negative that’s affected me, [I’m] trying to curse it out of me”.
“There’s many messages in the song, but also, once a song is out and it’s birthed, it’s not mine anymore,” Bambie Thug continued. “So if anyone picks a message that it relates to them, then that’s what it is for them as well.”
Another big Eurovision fan, Bambie Thug added, “I used to watch it a lot growing up and I was always jealous of my sister going to her Eurovision parties – and then one year I was old enough and cool enough to go with her!”
Isabella Kearney, whose song is Let Me Be the Fire, said that this is her third attempt at getting an entry into the Eurovision – but her first for Ireland.
The Australian-born singer, who is a signed songwriter for Sony in Nashville, has previously submitted two songs she wrote for the Australian version of Eurosong, Australia Decides. Neither song was performed by her or ultimately chosen to represent Australia in the contest – but she’s hoping it might be third time lucky.
“I’ve written two songs… both of those did really well and it was really fun to write for that, and now take it to Ireland.”
Kearney, who lived in Ireland for several stints as a child, very much feels Irish, “even though I have an Australian accent”.
“It just felt if I had to represent any country, it would have to be Ireland… it’s where my musical roots started,” she explained.
She admitted to feeling a little like an “underdog” in the competition to date but it has motivated her more.
“We’re going to wow people even more, I’m hoping. I think everyone has a fair shot regardless.”
Ailsha, whose song Go Tobann pokes fun at the struggles of Irish people to speak the Irish language despite learning it for 15 years at school, said she is feeling “very confident” ahead of tonight.
“I think the performance we’re going to deliver, it’s crazy, it’s fun, there’s a little message behind it, and I feel like people will hopefully get behind it.
“I feel like the performance will deliver a teaser of what exactly we’d do were the song to get through to Malmö.”
When asked about the staging for tonight, she said there’ll be “band members, actors, kegs, hurls, exploding toilets… it’s going to be wild! We’re making this like a Leaving Cert fever dream… to the best of our capabilities.
“Given the response the song has received already, we’re very confident it’s already resonating with people not just in Ireland, but people all over the world.”
Ailsha added that the issue of people not being able to speak Irish needs to be addressed and that she’s received an “overwhelmingly positive” reaction from the Irish language community.
The Late Late Show Eurosong Special, tonight 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
