Ireland at Junior Eurovision 2019: Anna Kearney with “Banshee”

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.