Picture the scene. It’s the early 1990s and you’ve been picked to represent your country. What’s more, your country won the previous year, so you won’t be travelling to somewhere exotic. You’ll be off to the premier venue in your country’s capital. Double-edged sword you think. So you have one of the most famous conductors in Eurovisiondom and his top quality orchestra. Just one thing. You won your national final and it was just you and a mate on a piano. Here’s the dilemma. Do you re-arrange the song to include a bit of work from your excellent home conductor? Or do you stick to your guns and give him three off? If you don’t win, people will blame your lack of orchestra. It’s all ancient history, obviously, because Paul Harrington (on the piano) and Charlie McGettigan (not on the piano) eschewed Noel Kelehan and went their own way. Charlie is 65 today.
Happy birthday/Lá breithe shona duit, Charlie!