Irish winners of Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision song contest began back in 1956. It was a song contest with a difference. Each country that was a member of the European Broadcasting Union could take part. Different countries found there own ways of selecting the artist and song that would represent them. Over the years the countries involved have changed somewhat. These days countries such as Serbia and Croatia take part. Israel has always been a competitor. Over the years there have been some dreadful acts and songs and a few good ones. Abba first became popular in the UK after performing on Eurovision with Waterloo.

The Eurovision Song Contest is a bit of an Institution these days. One thing that can be relied upon, with Eurovision in recent years, is that we British will usually be placed toward the bottom of the contest. We English can never seem to get it right.

No such problems though for Ireland.

Ireland has had many winners and success stories over the years, in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Over the years the Eurovision Song Contest has changes now and then. The countries taking part each year has been one of the major changes. In recent years, with the break up of Russia, we have seen countries such as Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Belarus competing in Eurovision,

These countries votes have been controversial. Usually each of these countries votes for each other and their have been claims of a stitch up. However, perhaps this just proves that they have similar musical taste.

Greece and Turkey always vote for each other. That has happened for many years.

The UK had a few wins years ago but never seems to have its finger on the pulse of Eurovision these days.

Ireland though has gone from strength to strength.

Ireland has won the Eurovision Song Contest seven times. This was in 1970, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996. They have also been highly scored plenty of other years. Part of the success of the Irish entry each year is that the performer is usually very good and the Irish entry has universal appeal.

The winning country always plays host to the following year's contest. This means that Eurovision 2010 will be held in Oslo. It is the 55th Eurovision contest. Nowadays there are semi finals. The final will take place on 29 May 2010.

The Irish entry will be selected shortly from a choice of five songs:-

1. "Does Heaven Need Much More?" - Leanne Moore (Written by Tommy Moran & John Waters)  

2. "River Of Silence - Lee Bradshaw (Music: Ralph Siegel, Lyrics: John O'Flynn & Jose Santana)

3. "Baby,Nothing's Wrong" - Michael Graham (Written by Michael Graham, Scott Newman & Yann O'Brien)

4. "Fashion Queen" - Monika Ivkic (Written by Marc Paelinck & Mathias Strasser)

5. "It's For You - Niamh Kavanagh (Music: Niall Mooney, Marten Eriksson, Lina Eriksson & Jonas Gladnikoff)

However I hear you ask which Irish entrants have won Eurovision in the past:-

1. 1970 "All Kinds Of Everything" performed by Dana 
2. 1980 "What's Another Year" performed by Johnny Logan
3. 1987 "Hold Me Now" performed by Johnny Logan
4. 1992 "Why Me?" performed by Linda Martin which was written by Johnny Logan.
5. 1993 "In Your Eyes" performed by Niamh Kavanagh
6. 1994 "Rock'N'Roll Kids" performed by Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan

7. 1996 "The Voice" performed by Eimear Quinn.

Perhaps it is worth mentioning, finally that Ireland's last Eurovision win was in Oslo so who knows 2010 could have the luck of the Irish again.