Ireland’s inaugural hunt for a Junior Eurovision star continues, with Aimee Banks winning the second heat of Junior Eurovision Eire tonight.
Eight talented youngsters took to the stage, but Kelly Irwin and Aimee Banks were the two who impressed the judges most. Ultimately, the panel of Niamh Kavanagh, Brian Kennedy and Stiofán Ó Fearail opted to send Aimee and her song “Réalta Na Mara” (Star of the Sea) to the 8 November final. The 13 year old joins last week’s winner David Kennedy. The remaining finalists will be revealed over the next two weeks.
Performance
https://youtu.be/dwsLBrgMI-M
What did you think of this week’s show? Do you agree with the result? Let us know below.
FOR MORE JUNIOR EUROVSION NEWS CLICK HERE
Photo: TG4
Eugene, TG4’s priority is to promote the Irish language : winning JESC would be less of an issue. I think they are to commended for conducting the entire selection process and having all the songs in Irish. Simply entering an English language entry because they think it might improve their chances of winning would be a bit self defeating. Besides, they could enter an English language song, see it finish nowhere and then kick themselves they didn’t use the opportunity to promote their own language.
Nooooo your just being negative, when have you ever and I mean EVER said something nice about Ireland ( ESC terms) the fact you haven’t kind of supports my claim.
@Jonas, you also need to ask your when was the last time Eugene wrought something nice towards ireland in eurovision.
No, Ireland are not “clueless” – TG4 is an all-Irish language channel, for native Irish speakers. It would completely go against their “raison d’etre”…It would be like France singing in English. They know exactly what they’re doing. Also, what “required standard”? This is a competition for children.
I thought Aimee was really good, very good voice and nice song, but my favourites were the two Ellies (Ellie Quinlan in particular). I thought Na Cork Rappers (should be ‘Na Rappers ó Corcaigh’ because that would be proper Irish, I think anyway …) were actually good and quite entertaining. Really hope Ireland can do well in Junior Eurovision, because we’re hopeless in Eurovision at the minute…
It’s important that we send a song in Irish especially since our language was stolen from us
Because if TG4 didn’t take the reigns at all we wouldn’t be in the contest. I’ll be happy to see Irish being sung at JESC since it’s never going to happen at Eurovision again.
@Eugene Ofcourse TG4 would like to do well but at the end of the day to simply be there exposing the Irish language to the rest of the Europe ( or the world this year ) is there win, TG4 doesn’t have a huge budget and enter JESC was probably the only option they could afford. You never know what might turn up ESC this year until Melfest semi 4 prior to the final song I wasn’t sure Sweden where qualifying and then Heroes showed up. As for this year anyway, all the songs in the Irish selection are 2… Read more »
EugeneUK, TG4 entering JESC was just to promote the Irish language rather then do well in the contest, all these episodes are prerecorded so its very possible that the best is being saved till last.
I only want us to do well in JESC just so RTE can see that this is the way to go in selecting our act.
@esc1234 I agree and I think that after the bad results of these last years, Ireland will completely change its process of selection soon. Then it depends also on the placing of the irish song on JESC, if it works, then it’ll work for ESC too
Na Cork Rappers made me laugh.
The thing is that this process should be at senior eurovision, not on junior…
She is talented but I really didn’t enjoy listening to that…ditto for last week’s winner. One more chance for Ireland to pull something out of the bag!
Aimee is a good singer, she has a bit of an Eimear Quinn vibe going on.
I was quite impressed with Ashley Tubridy too. She seems a talented young singer / songwriter and I could imagine her in Eurosong in a few years.
Interesting that Ireland will sing at Junior Eurovision in irish language, and almost all song at Eurovision they performed on english except 1972 when they only one sing in irish languare. We don t hear 100 % song from Malta at junior Eurovison on maltese language .
David is better choice than Aimee for Ireland. Aimee song for me is mix bettween song from Ireland at Eurovison 1996 Voice, and song from from Malta at Junior Eurovision 2014 Diamonds but Diamonds is far better from this Aimee song..
Meh..both winners so far have been horrible and I am starting to have my doubts for Ireland. 🙁
the rap song was total crap
Good choice!!!!
I think the song quality gets better, week after week. I won’t lie, I was a bit apprehensive about the quality. But now, I’m a bit more confident.
Yet again, one of the only songs I hated is the one that makes it through.
I’m so happy for her, I find that she stood out most in that heat and she deserved to get through