It’s the nation that issued a call for “accomplished songwriters and performers” in October. But Ireland has been conspicuously quiet ever since. However, following correspondence with the country’s Head of Delegation Michael Kealy, wiwibloggs can confirm that the Eurovision record-holders are almost ready to show their hand for the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv.
The singer and song have been chosen. They are currently working on perfecting the final mix and plan to release both the audio track and music video on Friday 8 March.
This is the culmination of a process which saw over 440 songs submitted to the national broadcaster RTÉ. These were whittled down to a shortlist of almost 70, which was presented to a number of different panels in early January. The selected performer(s) and/or the song may not have been among these numbers. When opening the submission window in the autumn, the TV network reserved the absolute right to approach established acts and songwriters and to select a song and/or a performer(s) at its sole discretion from outside the process.
Who will represent Ireland at Eurovision 2019?
RTÉ, by its own admission, has been tight-lipped this year. But that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from spinning. In January it went into overdrive when the Irish Mirror allegedly published a piece claiming that ex-One Direction star Niall Horan was in the mix. This proved to be a false alarm caused by a fake screenshot. Although, Kealy claimed that “it’s a bit early to rule anything in or out definitively!”.
Back in the real world, The Irish Mail On Sunday wrote that Una Healy from The Saturdays was apparently interested. An unnamed RTÉ source told the paper that “Una would be a great choice for Ireland’s Eurovision entry… She has an amazing voice and has years of experience performing in front of thousands of people so nerves wouldn’t be a problem for her.” That was reported back in December.
More recently, one-time The X Factor contestant Janet Devlin both started and ended speculation that she could be Ireland’s Eurovision 2019 representative. When a fan shared a “rumour” that Janet could be singing for Ireland she tweeted a cheeky reply – “Shh no one can know”. After her record label jumped on the bandwagon she was forced to tweet a denial.
Shh no one can know ? https://t.co/xcF19oJqwn
— Janet Devlin (@JanetJealousy) February 22, 2019
Too far guys ???? https://t.co/EExOFyMHh6
— Janet Devlin (@JanetJealousy) February 24, 2019
There has also been social media theories surrounding two up-and-coming male artists — Ryan Mack and FLYNN. This arose from cryptic social media posts. The former’s teasing turned out to be about concert dates, the latter was collaborating with Lost Frequencies.
What do you think? Who could be Ireland’s Eurovision 2019 representative? Are you excited to hear the song? Let us know in the comments.
Lots of rumors. Hyped about tomorrow but I fear it will be a big let down
I also fear the same! Israel is a poisoned chalice for any Irish musician. The lack of quality acts that will want to represent the country due to the political situation in Israel will only lead to a poor showing! Plus I doubt RTÉ, knowing the chances will place a lot of emphasis on funding!
Israel is turning this song contest into a political contest by allowing the military watch the preview of the grand final!
It is a blatant f*ck you to the Eurovison and what it stands for!
https://extra.ie/2019/03/07/news/irish-news/irish-protesters-call-on-rte-to-boycott-eurovision-2019-in-israel
Just read that it actually is Janet Devlin who will represent Ireland.
I would like to see Nathan Cartor to represent Ireland in Eurovision 2019 he would be perfect for Irseal
What’s the point in asking for song entries when the organisers can just go to an established artist to choose a song. The whole selection process in Ireland needs to be rejigged. I’d like to see The Heathers picked after nearly making it last year but we’ll probably end up with some former boyband/girlband member that Louis Walsh is associated with.
I wish niall would represent Ireland
From like 5 seconds LOL?
Yeah actually
The song Janet Devlin has just released is very good and would be a contender if this was the Irish entry.
The somg will be revealed 8th of march so that seems very unlikely.
They are revealing what song will be the Irish entry on the 8th March but it could still be a song that has been released before that date.
For anyone that saw Flynn’s Instagram post, saying that his new single comes out next Friday, please don’t get carried away. It’s global music release day on Friday, and RTE wouldn’t allow him to make any of these release announcements
Don’t care who it is as long as the song is strong and that they can actually sing. Loved Ryan’s entry last year from first listen. Interesting to see if they can keep it up considering recent struggles. I’m cautiously optimistic that we’ll have another strong entry this year.
Right. Even if Sweden match it this year, they still have to win again to beat it, and then go on to hold the record for 25 years like Ireland did…
I don’t want to start sounding like a spammer, but FLYNN’s big announcement today was that his new song is going to be released next Friday (8th of March), same day as RTE unveil Ireland’s entry. coincidence??
And yes I know he said his announcement wasn’t Eurovision related, but I guess technically it wasn’t Eurovision related. But his next announcement could be.
Do you really think that Lost Frequencies would be representing Ireland (considering Ireland’s awful track record recently)? Ireland sending a worldwide-known DJ doesn’t seem realistic tbh
It’s definitely not him. If he had signed a contract with a RTE, he wouldn’t be allowed to drop hints on Twitter.
I’m surprised people ever thought it might be him. He seems very good at promoting himself on social media but he’s a virtual unknown in the music industry in real terms.
And the Global release day is on a Friday too. So, it doesn’t mean it’s Flynn
The Greek snippet is out and although it’s some seconds it’s veeeery promising!
Where?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVXLVgFva78
To be honest you almost hear nothing in that snippet. I’m excited for the reveal though! We still need to hear “that” winner song for this year. Until now we’ve only got italy competing for the trophy.
Tim Chadwick is another possibility going by his recent Twitter posts. I’d be personally delighted if it is him as I love his music!
Richie Kavanagh deserves a shot
Are Heathers still in the mix? They came close last year, right, are they just back on the scrapheap?
I’m prepared for some unknown singer with a guitar.
If it’s Úna Healy, I really hope she has a good song. Her solo stuff has been dull. She will need to completely re-invent her sound, I would not be getting too excited for her on name alone. Maybe if she ropes in her former The Voice colleague, Bressie, as songwriter/producer…he knows his way around a good melody and pop production. I hope it’s him as the act, actually…
I would love to see Una or Janet represent Ireland. In any case, I can’t wait to hear the song. Next week is going to be so busy.
I just want to see how they will limit the downgrade (juste kidding). I mean, last year was so good.
I am Interesting what irland us will send
Imagine if its MARUV with a river dancing human centipede
I didn’t know I wanted this until now.
Celtic Woman would be great (sung in Irish)
Trust me you do NOT want to hear that haha 🙂 . Maybe it’s because I’m Irish but I think Irish particularly in songs is incredibly cringe worthy.
Something in the style of their 1996 entry “the voice” would stand out this year ..
still no clues of who it could possibly be ..
don’t disappoint us Ireland and continue the turnaround..
many countries in recent years have come back from being lost in a Eurovision wilderness , Belgium , Netherlands, Austria ..
maybe even Ireland could
As if there was a shortage of slow songs already in esc2019. You must be joking.
We can’t keep sending ballads though, like I think everyone every year expects some sort of ballad . I don’t know if we can do upbeat or modern in terms of production but Eurovision is moving in that direction which I like but we don’t do modern sadly.
Jedward was years ahead its time with Lipstick, so sure you can.
So, from the internally selected ones, there are still 14 entries to come:
North Macedonia (4 March)
Cyprus (5 March)
Greece (6 March)
Netherlands (7 March)
San Marino (7 March)
Switzerland (7 March)
Azerbaijan (7-10 March)
Austria (8 March)
Ireland (8 March)
Israel (10 March)
Russia
Armenia
Malta
Poland
Sweden march 9th as well ***
Sweden don’t select their entry internally.
Also iceland. The results come today
I want some classy old Irish Folk in their mother tongue to slay the ESC stage.
I’m actually surprised many people want an Irish song like as gaelige Irish because I think it would be a disaster but it would be interesting to see the result of a song like that if we sent it .
Hopefully it’s una Healy
this year it went like this but i hope next year some will reveal in february too bc it’s so lame to have 23 songs revealed in 10 days
ESC has been a real Marchvision since 2016.
Actually, I’d prefer for some internal choices to announce their song in October – January. Doesn’t always have to be this clustered in February – March.
Honestly is there anyone interested into the irish entry? This country is completely irrelevant today. Once made history, now is like the 2nd San Marino!
Came 16th last year, hardly irrelevant.
Also, relevant enough for you to visit the page and comment.
I personally loved the song since first listen. It wasn’t anything special, but it was really lovely.
Song was quite good too imo, staging helped elevate it, which what Eurovision is about.
Nobody says anything about the props other countries use. Like Ukraine’s giant in 2013, man in a wheel 2014, men in fridges 2008, men dressed as gladiators 2009, or Sweden’s light tunnel last year or Projected man in 2015.
Staging and props are used elevate the song by many countries not just Ireland. First time we really used a prop coz everything else wasn’t working, and look, we qualified.
The song was just bland and boring. The two dancers accounted for 80% of the vote.
firstly wasn’t that boring also if it’s so easy to get votes ,why don’t other countries set up in terms of staging? You may say money but Ireland’s staging wasn’t expensive( in terms of staging at esc) ,it’s about making the most out if what you have.
The two male dancers gave the song life on the stage and that’s why you guys advanced. “Why no countries set up with staging?” Jeez, since when did I talk about how much the staging was? Your staging was cheap but it worked. But if you got rid of that, the song is a boring piece. Plus, your music video hinted that it’s a song that can be described to a gay couple and people asked you to keep that on the stage. Without that concept, you guys would have flopped as usual. To sum up, last year was just… Read more »
Ryan has a very nice voice, Together was beautifully sung. He had an extremely likeable personality, and yes, the staging helped…but it was not an accident. The staging is important for every song. You may as well say Lordi wouldn’t have won without the masks, or Heroes wouldn’t have won without the graphics, or Conchita without the beard…so what…who cares?
You are right. Last year was an exception. My bad
Where are you from?
Girl bye Ireland slays.
The same point could have once applied to Belgium
Never. Belgium is creative and actual
Belgium wasn’t always so “creative and actual”. For years they failed to qualify. Pretty sure their last qualification was 2004, when they were pre-qualified from the previous year. After that they where NQ then for about 10 years, until 2013, then only qualified consistently from 2015-2017. Out again last year.
that is true people seem to forget Belgium prior to 2013
Ireland have actually had some really good entries in the last few years. Ryan deserved to qualify last year. The song and the performance was really beautiful. Molly Sterling should’ve qualified, Casey Smith was a shock non-qualifier, Ryan Dolan finishing last in the final was unjust, then before that you have 2 years of Jedward. You’re really being unnecessarily harsh on Ireland with that comment. I think you might have something personal against us. Come back with a reply when your country wins Eurovision 7 times. 😉
Charming!!!
No country is irrelevant at Eurovision, especially as in the last five years Austria and Portugal have both won Eurovision. The Netherlands, Belgium and France have also done quite well in that time too. Do you still think they’re “irrelevant countries”? Also, Iceland (another “irrelevant country”) are going to have a very good chance of winning in Tel Aviv if they opt for Hatari tomorrow night.
The only thing that is irrelevant is your comment.
Imagine Noisestrom representing Ireland.
Still think it could be FLYNN.
I never heard of this guy until yesterday, however upon listening to his song “Red Light” turned out I did know him.
He would be ideal for Eurovision. Really hope he goes. He still hasn’t made his announcement yet regarding the “something big happening today” not to mention he is followed on insta by some of the Eurovision fandom.
He said in an instagram story that he’s not doing Eurovision
He could have just been saying that. Until I hear otherwise that it’s not him, I probably still won’t rule him out fully.
Whatever his announcement is, it’s today (that’s what Eurovision fans have been hyping)
“He said in an instagram story that he’s not doing Eurovision”
That is literally you hearing otherwise that it’s not him.
It’s not Flynn he confirmed it wasn’t him
Wow, glad to hear at least anything from them! And I thought they’ll forget to send someone
That’s what I thought! We were the only country that hadn’t announced their plans until today.
same i was kinda like,are we pulling out?
It’s about time. Ireland was really quiet this season. Glad to know they have an act in the wings.
Get ready for another ballad, with a white young male called Ryan or Shawn! I bet ya!
Well, I loved their last two fitting that description, so bring it on!
Ryan O’Seachnassy was quite successful. 16th position is really not bad for a country that normally struggles to qualify.
I do hope we go with something a little different this year, but if the artist and song are good, then I won’t complain about a white male singing a ballad.
Nobody says anything about the fact that some countries that just send female divas singing ballads with cliche hand movements and big dresses every year.
Ireland qualified last year because of those two male dancers not because of the song. The song is just a demo.
What evidence is there that it qualified because of the dancers? It was 3rd on iTunes after qualification which showed people liked the song enough to download it.
We spell it the right way, Seán
I will never understand Irish pronunciation LOL!
That’s because it’s a different language
What is the problem with white young male? Do they need to find the only black person in Ireland to please you? Are you racist? Some countries are more white, just like others are more black.
SAmantha mumba?
Go somewhere else snowflake. I was pointing out that they normally send a white male over.
Can’t even use the word white anymore because of this PC generation
pfft
Who cares what the race and sexuality is? It’s a song contest.
Have you ever considered that the majority (not all but majority) of Irish people are pale/fair skinned ,like it’s really worrying if you don’t know that already also I agree with Cathal that it doesn’t matter anyway because it is a SONG contest.
That would be Seán