Ireland debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965 and is the most successful country in the competition’s history, with seven victories. Its golden era was the 1990s, when it won four times in five years: Linda Martin’s Why Me? (1992), Niamh Kavanagh’s In Your Eyes (1993), Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan’s Rock ’n’ Roll Kids (1994), and Eimear Quinn’s The Voice (1996). Ireland’s first win came in 1970 with Dana’s All Kinds of Everything and later with Johnny Logan, who remains the only performer to win twice, with What’s Another Year (1980) and Hold Me Now (1987).
Known for heartfelt ballads, strong melodies, and powerful vocals, Ireland’s entries often featured English lyrics and themes of love and longing. The national selection, Eurosong, has varied between internal selections and public votes, aiming to recapture past glory.
In recent years, Ireland has struggled to qualify for the finals, with notable exceptions like Ryan O’Shaughnessy’s Together in 2018, which reached the final for the first time in five years.
Despite recent challenges, Ireland’s Eurovision legacy of iconic ballads and record-setting wins ensures it remains a significant part of the contest’s history.
