Irish RTÉ considers national final for 2022 Eurovision

Lesley Roy, First Rehearsal, Ireland, Rotterdam Ahoy, 8 May 2021 — EBU / Andres Putting
Lesley Roy, First Rehearsal, Ireland, Rotterdam Ahoy, 8 May 2021

After ending last in the first Eurovision 2021 semi-final, the Irish broadcaster RTE is looking to make changes for the next Contest.

Lesley Roy, Ireland, Second Rehearsal, Rotterdam Ahoy, 12 May 2021
Lesley Roy, Ireland, Second Rehearsal, Rotterdam Ahoy, 12 May 2021

Head of the Irish Eurovision delegation, Michael Kealy, lays the blame squarely on a lack of money. “Other countries are able to invest significantly more money and resources in their selection processes, staging and support teams than a small chronically underfunded broadcaster like RTÉ, that’s unfortunately a fact of life we can’t ignore.”

He promises a “virtual Eurovision forum” to ask fans for ideas for how seven-times winning Ireland might recapture the glory years.

He added: “I feel it’s time we reverted to giving the public their say in what we do but we must find an effective and cost effective way of doing that.”

Source: The Sun Ireland