Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008

{{main|Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

Prior to the 2008 contest, {{lang|ga|Radio Éireann|i=no}} (RÉ) until 1966, and {{lang|ga|Radio Telefís Éireann|i=no}} (RTÉ) since 1967, had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Ireland forty-one times since its first entry {{esccnty|Ireland|y=1965|t=in 1965}}.{{cite web|author=Staff|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1975 – Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=282|access-date=13 February 2010|publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}{{cite web|author=Staff|title=History by Country: Ireland|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-country/country?country=3|access-date=13 February 2010|publisher=EBU}} They have won the contest a record seven times in total. Their first win came in {{esccnty|Ireland|y=1970|t=1970}}, with "All Kinds of Everything" performed by Dana. Ireland holds the record for being the only country to win the contest three times in a row (in {{esccnty|Ireland|y=1992|t=1992}}, {{esccnty|Ireland|y=1993|t=1993}}, and {{esccnty|Ireland|y=1994|t=1994}}), as well as having the only three-time winner (Johnny Logan, who won in {{esccnty|Ireland|y=1980|t=1980}} as a singer, {{esccnty|Ireland|y=1987|t=1987}} as a singer-songwriter, and again in 1992 as a songwriter). The Irish entry in {{esccnty|Ireland|y=2007|t=2007}}, "They Can't Stop the Spring" performed by Dervish, placed last in the final.

As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, RTÉ organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country.{{cite web|author=Staff|title=RTÉ Television - Eurovision Song Contest 2010|url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/eurovision2010/|access-date=13 February 2010|publisher=RTÉ}} After placing last in 2007, Tara O'Brien, RTÉ spokesperson, stated: "We will definitely be having a sit-down and looking at our geographical position and going through the whole process. Without doubt that's going to happen, it was a long night."{{cite web|last=Viniker|first=Barry|date=2007-05-14|title=Ireland to follow Monaco out?|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/8703|access-date=2008-09-24|publisher=ESCToday}}{{cite web|last=Rendall|first=Alasdair|date=2007-05-14|title=RTE look at the future participation|url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=31|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210231931/http://oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=31|archive-date=10 February 2010|access-date=2008-09-24|publisher=Oikotimes}} RTÉ confirmed its intentions to participate at the 2008 contest on 3 October 2007. The broadcaster had internally selected the artist in {{esccnty|Ireland|y=2006|t=2006}} and 2007, while the song was chosen in a televised competition.{{cite web |last=McEvoy |first=Denis |date=2007-10-03 |title=RTE to return to the National Song Contest |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=1068 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022213137/http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=1068 |archive-date=2007-10-22 |access-date=2008-09-24 |publisher=Oikotimes}} For 2008, RTÉ announced alongside its participation confirmation that it would organise Eurosong 2008 as an open selection to choose both the artist and song to represent Ireland, after a strategic review by a five-member consultative committee appointed by the broadcaster. RTÉ Assistant Commissioning Entertainment Editor Julian Vignoles stated: "The key findings of the committee were that the ESC has changed to incorporate bigger and bigger productions, that the growth in the number of Eastern European countries participating has made the contest even more competitive, and that it has become, as at TV phenomenon, more and more elaborate. The view of the committee is that it has become a performance contest, as much as a song contest. Having discussed these issues with the committee, RTÉ intend in 2008 to give the best possible opportunity to the creativity of Irish songwriters, singers, dancers and performance artists to create a really competitive Irish entry".{{cite web |date=2007-11-02 |title=RTE kicks off song quest; changes in NF format |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=1329 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211031526/http://oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=1329 |archive-date=11 February 2010 |access-date=2008-09-24 |publisher=Oikotimes}}

File:Dustin.jpg

Eurosong 2008 was the national final format developed by RTÉ in order to select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. The competition was held on 23 February 2008 at the University Concert Hall in Limerick, hosted by Ray D'Arcy and broadcast on RTÉ One as well as online via the broadcaster's official website rte.ie.{{cite web|last=Konstantopoulos|first=Fotis|date=2008-01-17|title=RTE to air national final from Limerick|url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=2175|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211085351/http://oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=2175|archive-date=11 February 2010|access-date=2008-09-24|publisher=Oikotimes}}{{cite web|last=Murray|first=Gavin|date=2008-01-22|title=Ireland selects on Saturday February 23rd|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10218|access-date=2008-09-24|publisher=ESCToday}} The first part of the national final was watched by 499,000 viewers in Ireland with a market share of 36%, while the second part was watched by 820,000 viewers in Ireland with a market share of 53%.{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Gavin |date=2008-02-29 |title=Ireland: National Final is a ratings hit! |url=https://esctoday.com/10713/ireland_national_final_is_a_ratings_hit/ |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=Esctoday}}

On 4 November 2007, RTÉ opened a submission period where artists and composers were able to submit their entries for the competition until 23 January 2008. Artists were also required to include their suggestions for the proposed performance or staging details of their songs.{{cite web |last=Krasilnikova |first=Anna |date=2007-04-11 |title=Ireland calls for Eurovision 2008 entries |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/9544 |access-date=2008-09-24 |publisher=ESCToday}} At the closing of the deadline, 150 entries were received. The competing entries were selected through two phases involving two separate five-member jury panels appointed by RTÉ; the first phase involved the first jury reviewing all of the submissions and selecting a shortlist of entries, while the second phase involved the second jury selecting the six finalists. Entries in both phases were evaluated based on criteria consisting of suitability of the song for Eurovision, quality and experience of the artist, and stage appeal of the entry.{{Cite web |date= |title=Eurovision Song Contest 2008 |url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/eurovision2008/index.html |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=rte.ie |archive-date=13 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213033033/http://www.rte.ie/tv/eurovision2008/index.html |url-status=bot: unknown }} The members of the jury that selected the six finalists were television producer Bill Hughes, singer-songwriter Eleanor McEvoy, singer-songwriter and former contest winner Charlie McGettigan, agent and choreographer Julian Benson and RTÉ Assistant Commissioning Entertainment Editor Julian Vignoles.{{Cite web |title=RTÉ's participation in The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 |url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/eurovision2008/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213033033/http://www.rte.ie/tv/eurovision2008/index.html |archive-date=13 December 2007 |access-date=18 August 2021 |website=RTÉ}} The finalists were announced on 3 February 2008 with their songs presented on 21 February 2008 during The Derek Mooney Show broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1. Among the competing artists was former contestant Marc Roberts who represented {{esccnty|Ireland|y=1997|t=Ireland in 1997}}.{{cite web |last=Viniker |first=Barry |date=2008-02-03 |title=Ireland: songs and running order confirmed |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10390 |access-date=2008-09-25 |publisher=ESCToday}}{{Cite web |last=Royston |first=Benny |date=22 February 2008 |title=Ireland: Can anyone stop the Turkey? |url=http://esctoday.com/10596/ireland_can_anyone_stop_the_turkey/ |website=Esctoday}}

The national final took place on 23 February 2008 and featured a guest performance from former contest winner Marija Šerifović as well as commentary from a panel that consisted of music manager Louis Walsh and former contest winners Šerifović and Dana Rosemary Scallon.{{cite web |last=Murray |first=Gavin |date=2008-02-23 |title=Live: Ireland National Final (transcript) |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10620 |access-date=2008-09-27 |publisher=ESCToday}} Following a public televote, "{{lang|fr|Irelande Douze Pointe|i=no}}" performed by Dustin the Turkey was selected as the winner.{{cite news |date=24 February 2008 |title=Fowl Eurovision entry for Ireland |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7261164.stm |access-date=15 February 2022}}{{Cite web |date=27 January 2012 |title=Dustin the Turkey |url=http://knockknockeurosongs.blogspot.com/2012/01/?m=0 |access-date=18 August 2021 |website=Knock Knock Eurosongs}}{{Cite web |title=IRISH NATIONAL FINAL 2008 |url=http://natfinals.50webs.com/90s_00s/Ireland2008.html}}

File:Dustin the Turkey-Irelande Douze Pointe.jpg as part of the Irish entry's promotional activities.]]

The announcement of Dustin the Turkey as the winner of Eurosong 2008 caused mixed reactions from the hall audience, including audible boos and panellist Dana Rosemary Scallon describing the win as a "mockery of the competition". Dana also stated that Ireland would be better withdrawing from the competition than sending Dustin.{{Cite web|last=Murray|first=Gavin|date=24 February 2008|title=Ireland sends the Turkey to Eurovision|url=http://esctoday.com/10623/ireland_sends_the_turkey_to_eurovision/|access-date=18 August 2021|website=Esctoday}}{{cite web|last=Murray|first=Gavin|date=2008-02-25|title=Exclusive: Dana speaks out to esctoday.com about Dustin|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10654|access-date=2008-09-25|publisher=ESCToday}} Former contest winning composers Frank McNamara and Shay Healy questioned the legitimacy of the jury panel that selected Dustin as one of the six finalists of Eurosong 2008, with the former questioning whether RTÉ was "giving two fingers to Irish songwriters".{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Rowan |date=24 February 2008 |title=Ireland's Eurovision song entry is guaranteed to be a turkey |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/24/ireland.television |access-date=15 February 2022}} Jury chairman Bill Hughes subsequently stated that Dustin's song, which included a "strong female vocal", was "very funny" and "had a great melody".{{cite news |last1=Cunningham |first1=Grainne |date=5 February 2008 |title=Dustin refuses to pull Out of Eurosong contest |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/dustin-refuses-to-pull-out-of-eurosong-contest-26449146.html |access-date=15 February 2022 |work=Irish Independent}}

The controversial nature of his entry "{{lang|fr|Irelande Douze Pointe|i=no}}" was also said to have been in breach of the contest rules that could "bring the Shows or the ESC as such into disrepute". The song was ultimately not disqualified, however the lyrics were edited by EBU demand after the Greek broadcaster ERT complained over the use of "Macedonia" in the lyrics in light of the Macedonia naming dispute.{{cite web|last=Viniker|first=Barry|date=2008-02-24|title=Does Dustin's song break the Eurovision rules?|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10645|access-date=2008-09-25|publisher=ESCToday}}{{cite web |title=Ireland told to change song, because of Macedonia |url=http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/372/45/ |website=macedoniaonline.eu |access-date=15 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327192805/http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/372/45/ |archive-date=27 March 2008 |date=22 March 2008}}{{cite web|last=Murray|first=Gavin|date=2008-03-25|title=Ireland: Dustin to change Eurovision performance lyrics|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10941|access-date=2008-09-25|publisher=ESCToday}} Dustin's participation and win at Eurosong 2008 also garnered international media exposure; he was mentioned in Spanish media and appeared in the United Kingdom on the ITV morning programme This Morning during the Saint Patrick's Day celebrations.{{cite web |last=Jiandani |first=Sanjay |date=2008-02-12 |title=Dustin The Turkey invades Spanish press! |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10488 |access-date=2008-09-25 |publisher=ESCToday}}{{cite web |last=Murray |first=Gavin |date=2008-03-17 |title=Ireland: Dustin the Turkey on UK television |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10886 |access-date=2008-09-25 |publisher=ESCToday}} "{{lang|fr|Irelande Douze Pointe|i=no}}" was later released as a CD single and went on to chart at number five in the Irish Singles Chart.{{cite web |title=Dustin The Turkey - Irelande Douze Pointe |date=18 April 2008 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/5221800-Dustin-The-Turkey-Irelande-Douze-Pointe |access-date=15 February 2022 |publisher=Discogs}}[http://irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=1&search_type=title&placement=Irelande+Douze+Points "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Irelande Douze Points"] Irish Singles Chart

The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 took place at the Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, Serbia. It consisted of two semi-finals held on 20 and 22 May, respectively, and the grand final on 24 May 2008.{{cite web |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |title=Eurovision Song Contest–Belgrade 2008 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/belgrade-2008 |access-date=6 February 2021}} It was announced in September 2007 that the competition's format would be expanded to two semi-finals in 2008. All nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Four" (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom) were required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top nine songs from each semi-final as determined by televoting progressed to the final, and a tenth was determined by back-up juries.{{cite web|last=Viniker|first=Barry|date=2007-09-28|title=Eurovision: 2 semi finals confirmed!|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/9327|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011204409/http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/9327#react|archive-date=2007-10-11|access-date=2008-09-25|publisher=ESCToday}} The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. On 28 January 2008, a special allocation draw was held which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals. Ireland was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2008.{{cite web|last=Viniker|first=Barry|date=2008-01-28|title=The Eurovision Song Contest semi final draw|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10310|access-date=2008-09-25|publisher=ESCToday}} The running order for the semi-finals was decided through another draw on 17 March 2008 and Ireland was set to perform in position 11, following the entry from {{esccnty|Poland|y=2008}} and before the entry from {{esccnty|Andorra|y=2008}}.

In Ireland, the two semi-finals were broadcast on RTÉ Two and the final was broadcast on RTÉ One with all three shows featuring commentary by Marty Whelan. The three shows were also broadcast via radio on RTÉ Radio 1 with commentary by Larry Gogan.{{cite web|last=Murray|first=Gavin|title=Ireland: Eurovision week schedule of events on RTÉ|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/11483|access-date=2008-09-29|publisher=ESCToday}} RTÉ appointed Niamh Kavanagh, who won Eurovision for {{esccnty|Ireland|y=1993|t=Ireland in 1993}}, as its spokesperson to announce the Irish votes during the final.

File:ESC 2008 - Ireland - Dustin the Turkey, 1st semifinal.jpgDustin the Turkey took part in technical rehearsals on 12 and 15 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 19 and 20 May. The Irish performance featured Dustin the Turkey in a green, white and gold trolley which included a record deck with a display underneath and dressed in a silver suit, performing together with three male and two female backing dancers, the latter which also performed backing vocals: Kitty B and Ann Harrington. The dancers were dressed in black cloaks at the beginning, which were removed to reveal large green, white and gold wings on two of the male dancers, a gold jumpsuit on the remaining male dancer, and gold dresses, green gloves and green headdresses on the female dancers. The LED screens displayed rippling effects of black and white as well as waves of orange, white and green.Eurovision Song Contest Semi-final 1 (20 May 2008). Radio Telefís Éireann. Retrieved on 2008-09-24.{{Cite web|date=15 May 2008|title=From Dublin to Sarajevo!|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/from-dublin-to-sarajevo|access-date=18 August 2021|website=eurovision.tv}}

At the end of the show, Ireland was not announced among the top 10 entries in the first semi-final and therefore failed to qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that Ireland placed fifteenth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 22 points.{{cite web|title=First Semi-Final of Belgrade 2008|url=https://eurovision.tv/event/belgrade-2008/first-semi-final|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423172215/https://eurovision.tv/event/belgrade-2008/first-semi-final|archive-date=23 April 2021|access-date=23 April 2021|publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Ireland and awarded by Ireland in the first semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Poland in the semi-final and to {{esccnty|Latvia|y=2008}} in the final of the contest.

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After his Eurovision experience, Dustin returned to Ireland where he launched a campaign against the Lisbon Treaty in the European Union, calling for a 'No' vote by the Irish on the referendum for the amendment of the Irish constitution to allow the adoption of the treaty. Dustin's campaign included the slogan "They didn't vote for us. Get them back. Vote 'No' to Lisbon", referring to his failure at Eurovision.{{cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12089|title=Ireland: Dustin says 'No' to EU treaty|last=Murray|first=Gavin|date=2008-06-12|publisher=ESCToday|access-date=2008-09-26}}

{{reflist}}

{{Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2008}}

{{Dustin}}

2008

Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008

Eurovision

Eurovision