Photo: TG4

Ireland have only creeped into the top ten at Junior Eurovision on one occasion – back in 2016. But Sophie Lennon is aiming to take the Emerald Isle back up the scoreboard at the 2022 contest, where she’ll be performing the song “Solas”.

Scroll down for “Solas” lyrics

Ireland in Junior Eurovision 2022: Sophie Lennon with “Solas”

Once again, Irish broadcaster TG4 used Junior Eurovision Éire as its selection show to choose Ireland’s singer for Junior Eurovision 2022. Over five weeks, 24 young singers were whittled down to three by a panel of judges, which included a number of Ireland’s past Eurovision stars. Then for the first time ever, the public were able to vote online and choose a winner from the grand finalists.

Sophie Lennon previously reached the grand final of Junior Eurovision Éire in 2021, finishing in third place. But 2022 was finally her time. The viewers selected the 13-year-old as the winner and Sophie will now head to Junior Eurovision in Armenia.

Sophie comes from Northern Ireland, living in the village of Mayobridge in County Down. She has a couple of siblings and is a registered carer for her disabled older brother, Connor.

Despite her young age, Sophie has already achieved a lot. She was chosen to appear on The Late Late Toy Show at the end of 2021, Ireland’s most watched TV programme of the year. Sophie was then cast as Young Fiona in the Belfast production of Shrek: The Musical. And to top it off, she was one of the winners of BBC Northern Ireland School Soloist of the Year earlier in 2022.

What do the “Solas” lyrics mean?

Sophie sings about being a guiding “Solas” (“Light”) during the long and dangerous night.

This night is filled with danger, including stormy weather and “metal horses like dragons breathing fire”. However, Sophie reassures us that she will stay with us throughout and help comfort us:

Every night
I am the light
I am always with you
Shadows come
After sunset
But I am always with you

But it’s not just Sophie who has the ability to shine a light for our world. She says we all have the power inside of us to be a supportive guide for others:

But the light is still there
Follow the beautiful music
It’s inside you, you are ready
To light up the world

These lyrics are represented in the music video by the use of lighthouse. At first we see Sophie running through the countryside, where she stumbles for a moment. After coming across a lighthouse, Sophie is eventually able to turn it on and also transform herself into the guiding light.

“Solas” lyrics – Sophie Lennon (Ireland JESC 2022)

Lyrics: Niall Mooney, MaJiKer and Hannah Featherstone
Music: Jonas Gladnikoff, MaJiKer, Hannah Featherstone and Ken McHugh

Irish Gaelic text

In san chiúnas
Tá an oíche fhad’ ag teacht
‘S níl aon bhealach ar ais
Capaill miotail
Le cuma dragain fhiáin
Ag anál tine

Gach oíche
Is mise an solas
‘S tá mé i gcónaí leat
Tagann scáthanna
I ndiaidh luí na gréine
Ach tá mé i gcónaí leat

‘G cloisteáil stoirm
Tá an toirneach (ag) ‘dul i méid
Ach tá solas fós ann, oh
Lean an ceol seo
Tá se ionat, tá tú réidh,
Don saol mór a lasadh

Gach oíche
Is mise an solas
‘S tá mé i gcónaí leat
Tagann scáthanna
I ndiaidh luí na gréine
Ach tá mé i gcónaí leat

Ná bí eaglach faoin saol mór
Glac leis, an draoícht i do chroí
An fáinne óir a tógadh
Lasta, le go dtógfar é ar ais

‘An ghrian ag éirí
Téann na scathanna siar
Tá lá nua anseo

Gach oíche
Is mise an solas
‘S tá mé i gcónaí leat
Tagann scáthanna
I ndiaidh luí na gréine
Ach tá mé i gcónaí leat

English translation

In the silence
The long night is coming
And there is no way back
Metal horses
Like dragons
Breathing fire

Every night
I am the light
I am always with you
Shadows come
After sunset
But I am always with you

Hear the storm
The thunder is getting worse
But the light is still there
Follow the beautiful music
It’s inside you, you are ready
To light up the world

Every night
I am the light
I am always with you
Shadows come
After sunset
But I am always with you

Don’t be afraid of the big world
Hold onto the magic in your heart
The gold ring that was taken
Aglow, so that it can be recovered

The sun is rising
The shadows retreat
A new day is here

Every night
I am the light
I am always with you
Shadows come
After sunset
But I am always with you

Will you be shining a “Solas” for Sophie Lennon during her performance at Junior Eurovision 2022? Do you think Ireland will finally reach the top ten again? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

22 Comments
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Matthew
Matthew
1 year ago

The days of Ireland rule in Eurovision it’s over with I can’t see Ireland ever winning again for a country who used to winning I think it’s time for Ireland pull out of the contest for good will certainly one not miss them

Microfibertowel
Microfibertowel
1 year ago
Reply to  Matthew

I would.

Vivian
Vivian
1 year ago

I like this a lot! I actually would love for Ireland to send a song like this to the adult contest as well. We’ve seen it bring them good results before, even qualifying in 2010. Online voting will probably do her dirty just like with Anna Kearney in 2019, but I’m just glad to hear Irish in a song like this again. It’s truly a fascinating language!

raylee
raylee
1 year ago

Ireland is coming for those jury points! Impressive song

Ressay
1 year ago

I can doubtly see Irelind winning….

Skdkfl
Skdkfl
1 year ago
Reply to  Ressay

My Irish self really hopes that i think the jury’s will rank high enough and the if the ro is correct like hopefully being surrounded by songs like Albania and Malta or last position then could do very well with televote

Yankee
Yankee
1 year ago

It is my #1. Douze points from America.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago

It’s decent but I think it’s getting overrated a bit. I have it just outside the top ten.
I think it’s trying to do a lot of the things that Banshee did but is a bit too much by-the-numbers and formulaic in the actual song structure to be *that* special.

ANDREW BROWN
ANDREW BROWN
1 year ago

This song harks back to the traditional Ireland songs of the 1990’s. It is the winner for me but has anyone else noticed the phrase Gach oíche musically sung sounds like “You’re Here” from Celine Dions My Heart Will Go On from Titanic! Play back to back the build is wonderful in both songs powerful emotional, well done to the writers and this young performer. .

microfibertowel
microfibertowel
1 year ago
Reply to  ANDREW BROWN

when I first listened to solas I immediately thought of my heart will go on so me too lol

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  ANDREW BROWN

The first three seconds also definitely sound like James Horner’s score for Titanic too. Ireland 2010 also has that feel, coincidentally written by the same songwriters.

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  ANDREW BROWN

Listen To Your Heartbeat # 2?!

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago

What a mature child, or maybe it’s just the adults who wrote the lyrics. The same adults who write the Irish song every year. Sophie has talent, the song is nice. I like it.

James
James
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Ireland’s entries always have the performer involved in the songwriting process, most especialy so between 2015-2017 when Junior Eurovision Éire had contestants submit and perform their own self-written songs.

🙂

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  James

That’s nice, but I don’t see Sophie getting a credit. Niall Mooney has been a writer on five of Ireland’s seven entries, Jonas Gladnikoff on four.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

The gold ring sounds mysterious, but I have no idea if that’s a metaphor or what.

Lollipopmonster
Lollipopmonster
1 year ago

Sophie and Ireland are on my no. 3 in my Top 16 (only beaten by UK and Georgia). No wonder that Sophie got 3 sets á 10 points (that is the maximum) – and that 2 years in a row. She will go her way in the music industrie for sure ….maybe playing big musicals. She will fly out next Sunday to Jerevan.

Tom
Tom
1 year ago

It’s a winner for me and I hope with the right staging Ireland will end up very high this year:-)

Ria NL
Ria NL
1 year ago

I love this beautiful song very much, for me it ‘s my winner

James
James
1 year ago

Reminds me of this show from the US called Guiding Light, which has a lighthouse as its primary feature and they even have a coda at the start of every episode during a period in its run.

“There is a destiny that makes us a family
None goes their way alone.
All that we send into the lives of others,
comes back into our own…”

Darren
Darren
1 year ago

Not a bad entry from Ireland, not something I would listen to regularly as it’s a bit dated for me BUT having it Ás Gaelige does elevate it, as did to every previous Irish JESC entry.
I’m hoping it will do well, but unfortunately Ireland ends up criminally underrated in the voting at JESC.
Perhaps having the United Kingdom back can help us somewhat.
Definitely should be a dark horse though.

Zheng
Zheng
1 year ago

My winner!!