Eurovision Song Contest 2026

In fairness, if you want to debate the rights and wrongs of RTE boycott that's really a current affairs type topic. These TV threads are really about what's happening in the contest itself on air… debating how good \ bad the acts, production, commentators are.

For example, discussion of whether Ireland should play Israel in soccer has its own thread there, and discussion of it is not allowed in Soccer forum.
So not an attempt to stifle debate, there are sincere posters on both sides of it with strong opinions \ feelings on the topic.

I didn't watch last night, but just like Tuesday, I enjoyed following people's comments and on Reddit. Certainly on Reddit last night, the most upset was directed at Cyprus qualifying…I don't know the song but I know it's another "girlbop" of the sort Cyprus sends most years. These always tend to be easy qualifiers but sink without trace on final night. From what I've read, the singer gave the worst vocal of the entire competition and didn't even manage to sing a single note in tune. A lot a people were upset that she got through while Switzerland and Latvia went home.

I have to admit, reading comments all week, she hasn't sung in tune the entire time she's been in Vienna, and I'm disappointed the juries didn't tank her - the point of the juries is to keep stuff like that out of the final. A scarier thought is that the juries did tank her, but she received massive televote support. She is British and a former Love Island contestant, but would that have helped that much? Or was it simply that she is a young and pretty woman and she attracted all the straight male voters? Or was it the "YAS QUEEN" brigade (as I call them), fans who just love a girlbop, and vote for it regardless of quality.

It doesn't seem the production was any better last night. And a third presenter appeared out of nowhere! I've read a lot of comments about a very tone-deaf insert on the contest's relationship with the LGBTQ+ community, so bad that the BBC decided to opt out. And a mimed performance by the presenters of that well-known Austrian song I'm so Excited.

Aye it'll probably turn into a s******w one way or another, at which point I'll be checked out… just trying to delay the inevitable a while longer!

As a Corkman, I can't let today go by without mentioning that May 15 marks the anniversary of the 1993 contest in Millstreet. While a more objective person might say it was the weakest of RTÉ's four hostings in the 90s, Millstreet 1993 will always have a special place in my heart.

While Niamh was a deserving winner, I do think the best song that night came from the Netherlands. Unfortunately, the juries didn't see it that way and it only finished 6th. The Irish jury, however, had taste and gave it 12 points. Sonia most certainly didn't deserve to win.

My favourite fun fact about the 1993 contest is that if Malta had voted when it was supposed to, there would never have been a cliffhanger and Niamh would have sealed the win with two countries still to vote. Those "technical problems" with the line to St Julian's ended up giving us one of the contest's most exciting endings.

Cool.

Nobody cares what you think.

Heard on the radio earlier on that talks are going on behind the scenes to let Russia back in next year.

I agree that it was the weakest of RTÉ'S four 90's hostings (and I'm also from Cork), the interval act with Johnny Logan and a choir was very dull and cheap. Of the four I think 1995 was the best, the dark moody staging complimented many of the songs, plenty of decent songs, Denmark was probably my favourite but it was never going to win, Mary Kennedy's entrance was dramatic and Lumen was a great interval act though overshadowed by the previous year's Riverdance.

Ok, I'll give you the interval act. It was dreadful…and precorded. There was a very quiet audience reaction to it. Most probably went to the toilet or got a drink.

If it's any consolation, it probably inspired RTÉ to make more of an effort with the interval act the following year. Which, I think we can agree, it did.

1994 I think was the best RTÉ show, apart from Gerry Ryan, who just wasn't up to the job. He certainly should have been kept away from the voting sequence with that terrible French. There was a big 80s hangover at Eurovision, and the contests between 1990 and 1992 looked and sounded like 80s contests. 1993 was a transition year, and the show finally entered the 90s in 1994.

And Lordi returning the favour!! 🤘🤘🤘

It was my Leaving Cert year, I remember the 15th May 1993 very well.

Don't agree one bit with this.If Abba themselves recorded 'Eins,Zwei,Drei it would still languish at the bottom of the scoreboard with barely any points as it is absolutely dreadful!

GRAND FINAL DAY!!

Ineresting polls. One runaway most popular song and a fairly **** Israeli song is the only hope to avoid an Israel win.

People probably wouldn't mind an excuse to head to sunny Oz to attend