All songs for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 have been selected. During the weeks between the national final season and the actual Eurovision Song Contest, we will introduce all 39 entries in random order. Part one of the series is dedicated to the Irish entry.

Basic information

Performer:	Niamh Kavanagh
Song:	It's for you
Language:	English
Music:	Niall Mooney, Mårten Eriksson, Jonas Gladnikoff, Lina Eriksson
Lyrics:	Niall Mooney, Mårten Eriksson, Jonas Gladnikoff, Lina Eriksson
Draw:	12th in the second semi final

The song

It's for you is a classic ballad, which has been described as "typically Irish". Through the lyrics, the singer tells that you have to believe in love to overcome times of sadness and that she cries and prays for those who suffer:

Shadows only haunt you
When darkness crowds your heart
So let the light of my love shine bright

When I cry it's for the lonely
When I pray it's for the lost and stray
When I love like there's no tomorrow
No more words to say
It's for you

The performer

Actually being a banker, Niamh Kavanagh had already performed in several smaller bands when she was asked to contribute vocals to the soundtrack album of the 1991 Irish-British film The commitments. The record was a commercial success and marked the beginning of her carreer as a singer. In 1993, she entered the Irish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. She was chosen to represent Ireland on homeground and in Millstreet, she could repeat her success and brought the country the second victory in a row. Her entry In your eyes was written by Jimmy Walsh and it was a huge success in Ireland as it would become the most sold single in Ireland of the year being certified double platinum. Although the song was not a major hit outside Ireland, it did manage to enter the single charts in the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands peaking at number 23, 87 and 42 respectively.

In 1994, the singer appeared in the Irish single charts again, this time with the song Red roses for me, which she recorded with band The Dubliners. She would record more singles and albums over the following years, which did not manage to match the success of In your eyes.

17 years after her victory, Niamh Kavanagh entered the Irish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. She won the national final by a landslide getting the maximum of points from all juries and the televoters. Her song It's for you has already entered the Irish single charts, where its current peak position is number 39.

The songwriters

Music and lyrics of the Irish entry were written by the international team of Niall Mooney, Mårten Eriksson, Jonas Gladnikoff and Lina Eriksson. Niall Mooney and Jonas Gladnikoff have already co-written the 2009 Irish entry Et cetera, which did not manage to go past the semi final stage. The Swedish team of Mårten and Lina Eriksson is already known in the world of Eurovision as they have competed in Melodivestivalen every year since 2006 with one composition. Mårten had also already competed in 1996. Among the songs they wrote are Jessica Andersson's Kom in 2007 and Nordman's I lågornas sken in 2008. They also co-wrote the winning single of Idol 2007, performed by Marie Picasso, a number one hit in Sweden. They also co-wrote the first single of 2009 German Popstars winners Some & Any called Last man standing as well as the single Uhr ohne Stunden for German Pop Idol winner Thomas Godoj.

The national selection

Once again, a special edition of the Late Late show was to select the Irish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. Five acts competed and Niamh Kavanagh was the clear winner getting the maximum of points from both the jury and the televoters.

Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest

Ireland is best known in the Eurovision Song Contest as the country that has the most victories on its account – no less than seven in total. However, the country was generally very successful until the downfall of the langugage rule and the introduction of televoting in the late 1990s finishing in the top ten no less than 27 times. However, from 1999 onwards, it turned: Ireland was only in the top ten twice since and achieved its first last place ever in the final in 2007.

We wish Ireland and Niamh Kavanagh the best of luck and a good result in Oslo!
Ádh mór ar Éirinn, agus ar Niamh Kavanagh. Go raibh toradh maith agaibh i Oslo!

Videos

Live performance in the national final:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJf05g1qbBM

The preview video:

Niamh Kavanagh message for the readers of esctoday.com:

Niamh Kvanagh winning the Eurovision Song Contest 1993 with In your eyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoNMRoM3a4w

Tomorrow, we will take a look at the Belarusian entry.