News from Ireland! The first You're a Star show of 2005, which took place yesterday, featured eight wildcard acts, which the judges felt deserved a second chance. Broadcaster RTÉ wrote that on its website.

It was up to the public who voted both by SMS text and over the phone for Lorraine Maher from Birr in County Offaly and Ann Harrington from Kells in County Meath. Before the third series of You're a Star kicked off in November, there had been a two-month search for Ireland's entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2005. Due to Ireland's result in 2004, the green island has to participate in the qualifier round on 19th May in Kiev, Ukraine.

The current series also included a week-long workshop, where the finalists of all the audition venues were taken through their paces. Judges Dave Fanning, Barbara Galavan and Hazel Kaneswaran had the last say on the final line-up of the successful acts from among the hopefuls at the workshop.

Now Lorraine and Ann will join the ten remaining acts in the final stages of the talent show. These are the ten lucky ones:

– Áine O'Doherty
– David Hope
– Fran King
– Jade
– Donna McCaul
– George (Maire Ide de Bhal, Julie Cunnane and Sarah Goodwin)
– Peter Fagan
– Sinead Hand
– Sinéad Mulvey
– The Henry Girls

Check out the You're a Star website for more information about the participants!

Thanks to Paul Mahoney for reporting this news!