RTE, the Irish national broadcaster has confirmed to ESCToday that Ireland plans to participate at the forthcoming 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.

Thus Ireland joins Norway, Finland, Estonia, France, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Ukraine all whom have confirmed their presence at next year’s Eurovision edition.

When it comes to Eurovision, Ireland can be referred to as the home of ESC, as it has geared up many a record in Eurovision history:

• The Emerald Isle holds the record of a total of 7 Eurovision victories (1970, 1980, 1987, 1992,1993, 1994, 1996)
• Ireland also holds the record of being the only country to have hosted the contest 3 consecutive times: 1993, 1994 and 1995.
• Johnny Logan is the only artist who has won the competition twice as singer, thrice if you count his 1992 Eurovision entry (as composer).
• The country has won 4 contests in a span of 5 years (1992, 1993,1994, 1996)

RTE is yet to determine the mechanism it will use to select its 2017 Eurovision entry and act. More information and details will be released in the coming months.

In  2016 former Westlife member Nicky Byrne defended the Irish colours at the Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm with his entry Sunlight. Despite his extraordinary performance he failed to qualify to the grand final.

The preliminary dates for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest have been set on 16, 18 and 20 May.