After some initial speculation late last year, it has just been confirmed that Ireland will debut at Junior Eurovision 2015. The entry will be organised by Irish language broadcaster TG4 in association with Adare Productions.
They will conduct a nationwide search for talented youngsters between the ages of 10 and 15, selecting either a solo singer or a group to represent the country at next November’s contest. The entry will be sung through Irish, the first time the language will be heard on a Eurovision stage since Sandie Jones sang “Ceol An Ghrá” at the adult version in 1972.
Speaking in the press release, Junior Eurovision’s Executive Supervisor Vladislav Yakovlev said:
Obviously we are over the moon that a country such as Ireland, with their strong Eurovision Song Contest tradition, will finally be taking part in Junior Eurovision. We have actually been talking to them since the summer of last year and spoke about TG4 joining the 2014 edition, and although that wasn’t possible it is great that they’ll be with us this year!
Details on audition dates have yet to be announced, but application forms are available on the TG4 website.
Are y’all excited to see Ireland finally enter Junior Eurovision? With a new broadcaster and a fresh start, could they replicate their ’90s Eurovision success again? Comments below!
Hell yeah! Maybe they’ll be the Western Europe’s answer to Georgia! Ooh Dali Dali dalia! Or whatever version that is in Irish Gaelic.
Finally! Using our native language, not English!!! Eire!!!!
Yay! And I think Albania are returning this year.
Oh please people, the JESC is a showpiece of drivel, where young people are basically trying to be adults. Children need to be children and not grow up too soon. Its very very sad, I have no problem with our language been shown but not in this farce of a contest. 🙁
Tá áthas an domhain orm, go bhfuilimid ag pairtéach an bhliain seo agus go mbeimid ag canadh as Gaeilge, ach tá súil agam, go mbeidh méid áirithe as Béarla. Bhi mé ag fanacht leis na blianta. Tá súil agam, go muineann TG4 RTÉ ceacht. Déanfaimid go maith nó b’fhéidir go mbainfinid cosúil le Iodáil le cuidiú Dé. I’m so happy, that we participanting this year and that we’re singing in Irish, but I hope, that some will be in English. I have been waiting for this for years. I hope, that TG4 shows RTÉ a lesson. Hopefully we’ll do well… Read more »
Tá fíor áthas orm é seo a chloisteáil! Tá sé in am go mbeadh muid ag tosú ag tógáil páirt. Tá súil agam go mbeadh céad míle fáilte romhainn. Agus i bhfad níos fearr, beidh an amhrán as Gaeilge! Níl aon rud ar domhain chun mo mhothúcháin a chur i bhfocail! Maith sibh TG4!! ————– I’m very happy to hear this! It’s about time we started taking part. I hope we will be welcomed. And even better, the song will be as Gaeilge! There’s nothing in the world that could put my feeling into words! Well done TG4. P.S. That’s… Read more »
Well, this could be a good stepping stone for nurturing acts for the main ESC, get them out there and recognized, then when they get to 16, have them represent us at the main adult ESC. Much like Russia has done with the Tolmachevy’s and that was successful.
Dont know how I feel about the Irish language on the International stage, but I will reserve judgement until I see or hear an act.
Pretty sure Ireland could also manage a victory or two at this, not many countries take part.
I have serious issues generally with the JESC, and for Ireland to enter just makes even dislike it more, yes, it will be showcasing our language, but, people please JESC needs to be finished and put away for all eternity, its not right having children that age on stage and trying to be adults. Wrong wrong wrong
I knew we would be entering this year. As a proud Irishman, I can tell you right off the bat that this is great because: 1. Ireland is an axis for some great songs. Especially in the field of folk tinged rock. 2. The strongly Eurovision influenced cultural scene. 3. The high ratings for Eurosong and Eurovision. We may sneer at the contest and sometimes make snide jokes about the Eurovision, but the reality is, people genuinely love the Eurovision here in Ireland. Eurosong 2014 pulled in up to 1.3 million viewers. Linda Martin being the reason!!! 🙂 But even… Read more »
Literally the best news ever! A country with a great music industry, strong Eurovision heriatage and singing in an endangered language – and no political voting! 😀
Yeaaaah buddy! Finally, I’ve been waiting for this.
Yay! Good news
@JESCGermany15
There is no blocvoting in the Jesc wake up. Kids don’t care about that..
What a great news. Good luck Ireland))
Amazing news 🙂 Hope ZDF will debut for Germany too but they told me that they don’t know anything about JESC :/ But I hope that Spain, Norway and Belgium could come back this year! We need more western countries in JESC because of bloc voting (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia and Georgia), so the first step was made with Ireland 🙂 Good luck Ireland for JESC 2015 🙂
Cool! I bet the chosen entry will have an edge 😀
Great news, also for my country xD
Delighted! For those of you that don’t know, Adare Productions is a TV productions company that make loads of talent shows for TG4 which means that we will have a proper national final, apparently 4 semi finals and 1 final! If you want an example, here is Busker Abú, TG4/Adare’s latest reality show: http://www.tg4.tv/play.php?pid=4126257206001&title=Busker%20Ab%C3%BA&series=Busker%20Ab%C3%BA (I’m not sure if you can view it outside of Ireland). Hopefully, TG4 will pull this off right and teach a lesson to RTÉ. Maybe 😀
Delighted for my home nation. Would be nice to have a song in Irish.
Happy for the JESC gaining another country and with apparently Albania’s return to the contest too. Very interesting to see them do it entirely in the Irish language. Yes I see one song in the main ESC contest was done in their native language, but hopefully it does them well!
Best of luck to Ireland! Maybe they’ll also pull an Italy on their first year of participation. You go Ireland or as the ancient Eurovision proverb would put it – Irlande Douze Points!
i hope ITV can change its mind or the CBBC Channel can make UK’s return.