Irish broadcaster RTÉ already received more than 450 songs for Brian Kennedy, who will represent the green island at the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest in Athens, Greece. Fidelma Kelly, spokesperson of Irish television, suggested the final total might rise up to 600 songs, other websites suggest even more than 800 songs!
The number of songs received had fallen to around 100 each year. Although it seems that many songwriters have managed to write a song for Kennedy within the month given by RTÉ, other writers feel they didn't have enough time to create a winning song. Raymond Smith, the writer of the Irish 2000 entry Millennium of love, said that the notice given was “inadequate and totally insufficient”.
A committee chaired by former winners Brendan Graham and Shay Healy and popular singer/songwriter Paul Brady will select the final four songs. These will be performed by Brian Kennedy and voted upon by the public in a one-hour television special, which will be broadcast in early spring.
Ireland will take part in the semifinal of the 51st Eurovision Song Contest on 18th May, 2006.
