Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1987

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RTÉ held the national final on 8 March 1987, at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, hosted by RTÉ broadcaster Marty Whelan and former Irish Eurovision participant Maxi. Nine songs competed, and the winner was chosen by an "expert" jury, which included Linda Martin, who represented Ireland in 1984 and would do so again in 1992.

The Eurovision Song Contest 1987 was held at the Palais du Centenaire, Eeuwfeestpaleis in Brussels, Belgium.

"Hold Me Now" was performed twentieth in the running order on the evening of the contest, following {{esccnty|Denmark|y=1987}} and preceding {{esccnty|Yugoslavia|y=1987}}, which meant that Johnny performed third last, as he had done in {{escyr|1980}}. The song went on to win the contest with 172 points, a substantial 31-point margin over Germany.{{cite web |title=Final of Brussels 1987 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/brussels-1987/final |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=16 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416165257/https://eurovision.tv/event/brussels-1987/final |archive-date=16 April 2021 |url-status=live}}

Although many former winners have returned to perform at the contest, Logan was the only singer to have won the Eurovision Song Contest twice until Loreen in {{escyr|2023}}.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Marty Whelan provided the RTÉ television commentary with Larry Gogan providing the commentary for RTÉ Radio 1 listeners. RTÉ appointed Brendan Balfe as its spokesperson to announce the Irish jury vote.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

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{{Main|Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest}}

"Hold Me Now" was one of fourteen Eurovision songs chosen by fans to participate in the Congratulations 50th anniversary special in 2005. It was one of two Irish entries, both by Logan, to feature in the show (the other being "What's Another Year").

"Hold Me Now" was drawn to appear twelfth, following "Ne partez pas sans moi" by Celine Dion (the winner after Logan) and preceding "Save Your Kisses for Me" by Brotherhood of Man. Like the majority of performances that evening, it was largely played out with a dance troupe appearing alongside footage of Logan's 1987 performance. Near the end of the performance, Logan appeared and lip-synced the last chorus. At the end of the first round, "Hold Me Now" was announced as one of the songs proceeding to the second round. It was later revealed that "Hold Me Now" finished third, with 182 points.

In the final round, "Hold Me Now" held its third place, with an improved score of 262 points. In both the first and second round, Ireland was able to award themselves twelve points, a practice usually not allowed in standard Eurovision editions.

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{{Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 1987}}

{{Congratulations (Eurovision)}}

1987

Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 1987

Eurovision

Eurovision