Thirty-nine countries are competing with the aim to lift the trophy in Malmö. The sixth country to be introduced is Ireland. The country won the most editions of the Eurovision Song Contest. This year Ryan Dolan will try again to make an eighth victory for the Irish.

Basic information

Performer: Ryan Dolan
Song: Only love survives
Language: English
Music: Wez Devine, Ryan Dolan
Lyrics: Wez Devine, Ryan Dolan

The song

Ryan Dolan sings an up-tempo song about the importance of love in this world. The Irish entry states that love is the main theme in every aspect of love.

We’re gonna live like it’s our last night alive
And we’re dancing till the morning light
And even if the sun don’t rise
In the end only love survives
So be love
Be love
Just be love (just be love),
Only love (only love)
We are love (we are love),
Only love (only love)
And when the stars are aligned
You got to make love your state of
Mind ‘cause in the end
Only love survives
So let the world collide
Don’t be afraid
If it’s the end of time
Love will remain
To live like it’s the last night alive
And we’re dancing till the morning light
And even if the sun don’t rise
In the end only love survives

The performer

Ryan Dolan is a singer from Strabane, Northern Ireland. His Eurovision entry made an immediate impression on iTunes pop charts. Dolan is relatively new to the music scene and he was endorsed by his mentor Stuart O’Connor.

The songwriters

Wez Devine wrote this year’s Irish entry together with Ryan Dolan. Devine also did the production of the song. Wez Devine owns Zenemy music that produced a number of songs including one with Glenn Rouse.

The national selection

Once again, the Irish national final was held during a special edition of The Late Late Show. The winner was chosen by mixture of jury voting and tele-voting. In total five acts competed in the show.

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. Infact they won seven editions. However, the country was generally very successful until the downfall of the language rule and the introduction of tele-voting in the late 1990s finishing in the top ten no less than 27 times. However, from 1999, it turned: Ireland was only in the top ten twice since and achieved its first last place ever in the final in 2007. In the last two years Jedward represented Ireland. In 2011 finished eighth with 119 points, which is Ireland’s best result since 2000 but in 2012 the duo couldn’t finish any better than nineteenth in the final held in Baku.

Statistics

This will be Ireland’s 46th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. It will be the 17th time that the country is represented by a male solo singer.

Irish vote in Eurovision

Ireland has given the most points to the United Kingdom while the British reciprocated by giving the most points to the Irish. In total the Irish gave 176 points to UK while the British gave 236 points to Ireland throughout its participation in Europe’s favourite show.

The betting odds

According to oddschecker.com, Ireland is currently standing at number 13 to win the Eurovision Song Contest, while it looks more favourable for the country to qualify as it is the seventh favourite to qualify from semi-final one.

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

Videos

Preview clip

National final performance

The Secret – Zenemy DJz & Ryan Dolan

Tomorrow another country will be introduced (hint – Je t’adore le chocolat!)

Have your say

You can rate the Irish entry by voting in our poll

[polldaddy poll=7002818]

You can view previous parts of this series by clicking here