Irish broadcaster TG4 has announced details of its Junior Eurovision national selection show. The show will be presented by Voice of Ireland host Eoghan McDermott and will star 2006 Irish representative Brian Kennedy as well as 1993 winner Niamh Kavanagh.
The former Eurovision singers will make up the judging panel who will select the act to make Ireland’s debut at JESC in November. They’ll be joined by third panelist – singer Stiofán Ó Fearail.
TG4 are taking the selection process seriously. After launching an open competition earlier this year, they then whittled down the entrants to 50, who performed in front of a panel of experts in July. From there 30 acts will go on to the national selection TV show.
The five prerecorded shows will be filmed in Dublin this month and will screen from 11 October, weekly on Sundays. In each episode the singers will perform their song, with panel choosing the best to progress to the final. And of course, in the final Ireland’s very first JESC entry will be chosen.
Eoghan McDermott
The show’s host Eoghan McDermott is best known in Ireland as a radio DJ and for being one of the presenters of The Voice of Ireland. He is also a fluent speaker of Irish – an essential skill as TG4 is an Irish-language broadcaster and Ireland’s JESC entry will be in Irish.
He excitedly shared news of his new role with his Twitter followers today:
Ah caint faoin teanga – delighted to be hosting Ireland’s first ever Junior Eurovision le haghaidh @TG4TV ah tosnú go luath. Woohoo!
— Eoghan McDermott (@eoghanmcdermo) September 1, 2015
His Twitter account also revealed that he’s a bit of a Eurovision fan. He made this emotional tweet after Molly Sterling didn’t make the final in Vienna:
If getting through to Eurovision final means entering some shite-awful euroglitter pop wank then rather not. @SterlingMolly was amazing! — Eoghan McDermott (@eoghanmcdermo) May 22, 2015
That’s the spirit! And it seems that Eoghan has his favourites. Any chance of getting “My Lovely Horse” translated into Irish?
Before Eurovision qualifier kicks off, can we all openly acknowledge the greatest Eurovision song that ever was?… pic.twitter.com/yXgoYOjTF5
— Eoghan McDermott (@eoghanmcdermo) May 8, 2014
What do you think of Ireland’s plans for its Junior Eurovision debut? Leave your comments below!
Beidh mé ag déanamh anailís ar an gcomórtas trí mo chúntas Twitter – @harryquinn97 – má tá suim ag éinne. Táim fíor bhródúil as mo theanga dúchasach agus mar sin beidh mo ‘tuiteanna’ as Gaeilge den chuid is mo. Gheobhaigh tú an smaointe ginearálta astu má úsáideann tú Google Translate. ??
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I will be analysing the competition through me Twitter account – @harryquinn97 – if anyone is interested. I’m very proud of my native language, so most of my tweets will be in Irish. You’ll get the general idea of them if you use Google Translate. ????
Great, the jury for the Junior Contest consists of former (and old) Eurovision stars. I just hope Ireland could get back to its glory days.
Good Luck.
Dear RTE, Please implement the following changes R.E. Eurosong 2016: A multi-week selection process; 24 songs in four heats of six, top two songs from each heat go direct to final, third and fourth placed songs go to semi final; Eurosong Final to consist of 12 songs: eight direct qualifiers plus top four songs from semi final; Overall winner chosen based on votes of Irish panel (25%), 10 national OGAE juries from across Europe (25%), and Irish televote (50%); All shows to be broadcast from the RDS (as opposed to the Late Late Show broom cupboard). Regards, The Irish public… Read more »
@WillFran
Yes the 3 Arena would definitely be a suitable venue if Ireland ever wins Eurovision again, it would be similar in size to the Malmo Arena or the Wiener Stadhalle. The Audi Club members area could also be used as the green room
Well, I am shocked, but happy by how seriously TG4 is taking Junior Eurovision, kudos. I dont like Eoghan McDermott though, he is so full of himself. but anyways….If the shows are pre-recorded, then do people get to vote? Or is it down to the 3 judges to decide? I dont know how Europe will react to a song spoken As Gaelige, I would have preferred a 50/50 production, so that they can understand it, while it is still cultural and “Irish” but Ill see how it goes, it all sounds very well organised though and hopefully our debut is… Read more »
Yes, the “3Arena”, or whatever it will be called when (yes, when) Ireland win again, should be plenty big enough. Especially as it’s hosted three previous contests. The extra dressing rooms could easily be accommodated.
Yes, the “3Arena”, or whatever it will be called when (yes, when) Ireland win again, should be plenty big enough. Especially as it’s hosted three previous contests. The extra dressing rooms could easily be accomodated.
Great to see this effort is being made! Will the show be hosted in Irish?
A little off-topic, but I visited Dublin for the first time recently, and had a look around the 3arena. I didn’t go in, but I was wondering if it would be big enough to host the adult contest? I think it could easily have JESC, but would need to use that wasteland next door for dressing/green room
@Padraig That makes alot more sense, thank you.
@daniel , english is the most widely spoken however irish is still the first national language ..
i want an irish language winning song for eurovision 2016 !!!!
yes yes yes
When does it start?
THIS IS HOW RTE SHOULD BE HOSTING. Kudos to TG4 for putting in this amazing effort. I hope there will be a public vote and would surprised if there wasn’t to well..you know..get more funds..
No public vote? The finale two weeks before the actual contest? Bizzare.
I know Irish is the official language of Ireland as it the only language that originated from there. But English by far more spoken there so surely Ireland should have an exception to sing in whatever language the artist chooses.
@Daniel – Ireland has two official languages, Irish and English. It also has two members of the EBU, RTE which shows zero interest in JESC and TG4. TG4 is an Irish language broadcaster, so it’s not surprising that they would send a song in Irish.
When Ireland misses the victory in our Vision 4 almost 20 years now i wonder if the Irish will manage to win the Junior Vision this year though…Its their big debut after all <3 🙂
I want Ireland to win as this year marked the legalization of gay marriages among homosexuals in Ireland! <3 😀
If they win in Bulgaria in November they will celebrate this year as really special significant in their history <3 🙂
Good Luck to Ireland 4 The Junior Vision <3 :))
“My Lovely Horse” would have been Top 15!