It’s the country that holds the record number of Eurovision wins. But Ireland has yet to leave its mark on the winners’ podium at the junior contest. Hoping to change all that is Anna Kearney with “Banshee”.
Scroll down for “Banshee” lyrics
Ireland in Junior Eurovision 2019: Anna Kearney with “Banshee”
Ireland made its first appearance at the junior contest in 2015 in Sofia, Bulgaria. That year, Aimee Banks finished 12th with the “Réalta Na Mara”. The country secured its best placing in 2016, when Zena Donnelly came tenth. Last year, Taylor Hynes finished 15th with “IOU”.
As its half-decade anniversary approaches, you know what they say — fifth times a charm!
Following four heats, a semi and a final, Anna Kearney was crowned the winner of Ireland’s national final Junior Eurovision Éire on 6 October. She won the competition with her rendition of Eurovision 1992 winner Linda Martin’s “Why Me”, impressing the legend herself who was sitting on the judging panel. “Banshee” was internally selected.
From Foxrock in Dublin, 13-year-old Anna is already a seasoned performer. She’s danced for the pope and made appearances on Broadway and at the National Concert Hall in Ireland.
But she won’t be the first in her family to grace a Eurovision stage. Her mum Eileen was part of the iconic Irish dancing troupe that brought Riverdance to the world during the Eurovision Song Contest interval in 1994.
What do the “Banshee” lyrics mean?
This Halloween season, it’s a perfect time to tune into “Banshee”. A banshee is an Irish mythological spirit and is said to appear when someone you know is close to death.
Therefore, it can act as a metaphor for our inner demons and adversity during tough times. This heart-rending song reminds us that we all must face the banshee from time to time, but courage and love help us stay afloat. Everybody say LOVE…..!! LOVE!!!
I am your queen and your secret
I’ll be by your side always
Don’t be afraid of the banshee
Don’t let the love fade away
My love and my secret
My black horse, I’m a loyal bird
Don’t be afraid of the banshee
Don’t let the love fade away
It’s amazing how Anna along with her co-writers turned something as dark and mysterious as a banshee into an uplifting anthem. Certainly, the song not only shares the joy but also encourages communication in tough times.
Anna’s mellifluous voice is like a charm. It casts a spell that’s delivered with a certain innocence.
Nonetheless, this track could easily be the theme song of Lydia Martin, the banshee from the hit TV show Teen Wolf. MTV, are you listening?
Speaking of women called Martin, the aforementioned Linda makes a cameo in the official music video. And she doesn’t fail to create a wow moment.
Ireland is certainly the dark horse of the competition. Hopefully, it will go places.
What do you think of Ireland’s entry? Can it finally reach the top of the scoreboard? Let us know in the comments. And click here to read more Junior Eurovision 2019 lyrics.
“Banshee” lyrics — Anna Kearney (Ireland JESC 2019)
Written by: Niall Mooney, Fiachna Ó Braonáin, Anna Banks and Anna Kearney
Composed by: Jonas Gladnikoff, Cyprian Cassar, Daniel Caruana
Mooney and Gladnikoff have collaborated on several Irish Eurovision and Junior Eurovision entries, including Niamh Kavanagh’s 2010 effort. O Bhraonáin is the frontman of the rock band Hothouse Flowers.
Irish text
Táim thuas chomh h’ard
Tar liom ar mo dhroim
Is eitil siar
siar i d’aisling
Ar nós na hoíche
Eirím leis na realta
Ar nos na gaoithe
Táim dofheicte (fheicthe)
Tabhair dom do lámh
Ná bí scanraithe
Is mé do bhanríon is do rún searc
Beidh mé le do thaobh go síoraí
Ná bí scanraithe faoin mbean sí
Ná lig don ghrá seo…
Mo shíor ghrá, Is mo rún searc
Mo chapall dubh, táim i mo einín lách
Ná bí scanraíthe faoin mbean sí,
Ná lig don ghrá seo dul in éag…
Séideann an gaoth
Imíonn an stoirm
Banshee a dastraigh
Dastraigh go ciúin
Bí le mo thaobh, le mo thaobh, le mo thaobh
Is mé do bhanríon is do rún searc
Beidh mé le do thaobh go síoraí
Ná bí scanraíthe faoin mbean sí
Ná lig don ghrá seo dul in éag… dul in éag
Mo shíor ghrá, Is mo rún searc
Mo chapall dubh, táim i mo einín lách
Ná bí scanraíthe faoin mbean sí,
Ná lig don ghrá seo dul in éag…
Ná bí scanraíthe faoin mbean sí,
Ná lig don ghrá seo dul in éag
English translation
I’m up so high
Come with me
Flying back
Into your dreams
Like the night
I rise with the stars
Like the wind
I’m invisible
Give me your hand
Don’t be afraid
I am your queen and your secret
I’ll be by your side always
Don’t be afraid of the banshee
Don’t let the love fade away
My love and my secret
My black horse, I’m a loyal bird
Don’t be afraid of the banshee
Don’t let the love fade away
The wind blows
The storm leaves
A banshee that changed
Changed quietly
By my side, by my side, by my side
I am your queen and your secret
I’ll be by your side always
Don’t be afraid of the banshee
Don’t let the love fade away.. fade away
My love and my secret
My black horse, I’m a loyal bird
Don’t be afraid of the banshee
Don’t let the love fade away
Don’t be afraid of the banshee
Don’t let the love fade away
I actually really like this entry and it makes me feel proud knowing that although I’m born in England, I have Irish heritage as my great-grandma was from there and it gives me a little more of a push to actually want to connect with my heritage. Beautiful song and excellent vocal. The video was really great also! Éire, it’s amazing
The Galeic language has something magical in it. They should really try it in the adult contest. I don’t know why but I really like everything related to Ireland and Scotland.
There is an otherworldly aspect to the musicality that is a bit different from the other ballads, and the melody is pretty. What I’m about to say next might get me a few downvotes, but to be honest I like last year’s song more. It was really fun and I still hum the tune now and then. This year’s song doesn’t engage me the way some of the other ballads do.
I kinda agree. This is a contest for children, and the songs should reflect that. Adults have written this, it could easily be placed in the “proper” Eurovision. Will children go for this?
I really liked this one. Very atmospheric and suited for a junior competition. And Anna seems to be the perfect girl to sing it. 🙂
Best Irish song in ESC or JESC for at least the last ten years in my opinion. This genuinely deserves a top five spot. Well done, Ireland!
To me this is second to playing with numbers, but this song is outstanding
Cyprian Cassar also composed “Marchin’ On”, Malta’s entry in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018.
Easily the best Irish JESC entry so far. Everything about it is professional and she seems the strongest vocalist Ireland has sent.
Ireland deserve to do well with this. If Wales can’t bring that Celtic magic we so crave, Ireland is picking up the slack majorly. Question is, would TG4 have the budget to host in 2020?
Jesc is usually hosted in small arenas. Ireland has lots of those. In fact, Ireland is probably more prepared to host JESC than ESC.
If it did happen though…big IF. I could see Dublin hosting 2020 at Bord Gais Energy Theatre in the silicon docks.
Galway (the base of TG4) and Cork would also be capable host cities
underrated! i love the concept n the visuals
This reminds me of Hocus Pocus. Linda Martin is leading Anna off to her cottage in the woods to suck the youth out of her? Happy Halloween!
At this point, would like to see TG4 take over from RTÉ in the ESC, not much to lose and could be interesting to see an Irish language entry in the main contest.
Maybe do one every two years each like Belgium
I love how their ESC past participants sometimes take part in the JESC music videos :3
Like in 2018 with Ryan and Niamh
I just want to say I appreciate that they song on irish even though they could simply use english
It’s an Irish-language broadcaster, so entering in English would make no sense and defeat their whole purpose in participating.
When I think of Ireland’s entries at Eurovision and Junior Eurovision, the word that springs to my mind is ‘nice’. I’ve followed both contests since 2012, and have heard all entries from 2004 to present. Most of Ireland’s entries have been good but, for me, none of their entries that I’ve heard are amazing, exceptional, or worth writing home about, and I generally think that Ireland has just become somewhat of a “filler” nation at Eurovision recently, just making up numbers. That was until now… ‘Banshee’ is in a league of it’s own. I honestly can’t find a single flaw… Read more »
Wow ! You went to a lot of effort to write that comment . It was very good . Yes Ireland deserve to do well with this song, it’s amazing. So proud to be Irish