‘We are in with a great chance’

Eurovision legend Marty Whelan has said Ireland is “in with a great chance” at tomorrow’s Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö and “there’s a very strong sense that we are going to do exceptionally well”.

Speaking to Colm Ó Mongáin on RTÉ Radio 1’s Today this morning, the 67-year-old broadcaster, who has been providing commentary for the Eurovision Song Contest for 25 years, said it is impossible to compare Ireland’s Bambie Thug to previous Irish entrants.

“When you look at Bambie Thug and the performance, it is just that – it is a performance. It’s turned out for us to be a revelation in some ways. We’re really, really happy about it,” he said.

The RTÉ lyric fm presenter said Bambie has been the talk of the town in Malmö and has made quite the impression among commentators.

“Over the years, as you said 25 years for me, you’d sometimes go with an act and you’d be half-hoping and then you’d hear nothing,” Whelan admitted.

“The other commentators have been talking about Bambie Thug since I arrived last weekend. There is a real positivity towards us and towards our act. It’s very good for us. It’s wonderful,” he continued.

Ireland last participated in the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final six years ago with Ryan O’Shaughnessy’s track Together. But Whelan contends that when it comes to previous Irish Eurovision acts, Bambie is in a league of their own.

“Well, the proof of the pudding is if you compare Bambie Thug to Eimear Quinn, Niamh Kavanagh or Johnny Logan – there’s absolutely no comparison whatsoever. Maybe that’s the thing – that we have arrived with an act that has people going, ‘Oh, merciful hour, this is not what we expected!'”

“If we talk about some of the other acts that are on, there’s a fella dancing around in what looks like a satellite dish,” he laughed.

“There’s a whole manner of things behind the Eurovision – it’s always been a bit daft – but for us with Bambie Thug, they have brought something completely different to the table and that has helped us tremendously,” he said.

Bambie’s catchy track Doomsday Blue “is going down well” with Eurovision fans and critics and is widely tipped to do well on tomorrow’s leaderboard.

“We are hanging on to a Top Five feeling. At the moment, between Croatia and ourselves, there’s a very strong sense that we are going to do exceptionally well,” Whelan concluded.

“We’re in the competition to win it! I hope that we have a good show tomorrow night and all will be well – that’s the important thing.”

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The Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final airs on RTÉ One, RTÉ 2FM, and the RTÉ Player from 8pm on Saturday.