Ireland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest

{{Infobox song contest country

| Name = Ireland

| Contest = JESC

| Broadcaster = TG4

| Apps = 9

| First = {{Escyr|2015|Junior}}

| Best = 4th: {{Escyr|2022|Junior}}

| Current = 2024

}}

Ireland has participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest nine times since their first appearance at the {{Escyr|2015|Junior|2015 contest}}. Irish-language broadcaster TG4 has been responsible for the country's participation in the contest, and organises a televised national final {{lang|ga|Junior Eurovision Éire}} to select the Irish entries. TG4 did not participate in {{Escyr|2020|Junior}} due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but returned to the contest in {{Escyr|2021|Junior}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tg4.ie/en/junior-eurovision-2021/|title=Junior Eurovision 2021|date=2021-02-09|access-date=2021-02-09|work=TG4|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209200149/https://www.tg4.ie/en/junior-eurovision-2021/|archive-date=2021-02-09}}

Since their debut, Ireland has placed in the top 10 twice: in {{Escyr|2016|Junior}} when the song "{{lang|ga|Bríce ar bhríce|i=unset}}" performed by Zena Donnelly placed 10th out of 17 participating countries, and in 2022 when "{{lang|ga|Solas|i=unset}}" by Sophie Lennon placed 4th out of 16 participants.{{Cite web|url= https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2022/1211/1341257-sophie-lennon-comes-fourth-in-junior-eurovision/ |title= Ireland's Sophie Lennon comes fourth in Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2022|date=11 December 2022|access-date=12 December 2022|website=rte.ie|publisher=RTÉ}}

History

TG4 originally intended to make their debut in the {{Escyr|2014|Junior}} contest in Marsa, Malta, but required funding from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, which was rejected.{{Cite web|url=http://eurovoix.com/2014/05/22/ireland-tg4-fails-to-get-bai-funding-for-jesc/|title=Ireland: TG4 Fails To Get BAI Funding For JESC|website=eurovoix.com|publisher=Eurovoix|date=22 May 2014|access-date=22 May 2014|last=Granger|first=Anthony}}

Ireland debuted in the contest when TG4 participated in the {{Escyr|2015|Junior}} contest in Sofia, Bulgaria, when the song "Réalta na mara" performed by Aimee Banks placed 12th in a field of 17 countries.

Despite having initially confirmed their participation in the {{Escyr|2020|Junior}} contest in Warsaw, Poland in January 2020,{{cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2020/01/14/ireland-junior-eurovision-2020-participation/|title=Ireland: Junior Eurovision 2020 Participation Confirmed|date=14 January 2020|access-date=26 July 2020|work=Eurovoix|first=Emily|last=Herbert}} TG4 announced in August 2020 that they would not participate in the contest due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news|last=Farren|first=Neil|date=4 August 2020|title=Ireland: Withdraws from Junior Eurovision 2020|url= https://eurovoix.com/2020/08/04/ireland-withdraws-from-junior-eurovision-2020/|access-date=4 August 2020|work=Eurovoix}} In February 2021, TG4 confirmed their participation in the {{Escyr|2021|Junior}} contest in France.

=''Junior Eurovision Éire''=

Junior Eurovision Éire is an Irish television show which has served as Ireland's national final for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest since the country's debut in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2019/02/17/ireland-tg4-confirms-participation-in-junior-eurovision-2019/|title=Ireland: TG4 Confirms Participation in Junior Eurovision 2019|date=17 February 2019|access-date=27 July 2020|work=Eurovoix|first=Anthony|last=Granger}} The show was hosted by Eoghan McDermott from 2015 to 2019.{{cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2019/08/16/ireland-junior-eurovision-eire-2019-to-start-on-september-1/|title=Ireland: Junior Eurovision Éire 2019 to Start on September 1|date=16 August 2019|access-date=27 July 2020|work=Eurovoix|first=Neil|last=Farren}} Between 2015 and 2018, the show selected both the song and the artist, while in 2019 and 2021 the show selected only the artist, and the song was selected internally.{{cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2019/07/31/ireland-changes-to-the-format-of-junior-eurovision-eire/|title=Ireland: Changes To The Format of Junior Eurovision Éire|date=31 July 2019|access-date=27 July 2020|work=Eurovoix|first=Anthony|last=Granger}}{{cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2019/10/06/ireland-anna-kearney-to-junior-eurovision-2019/|title=Ireland: Anna Kearney to Junior Eurovision 2019|date=6 October 2019|access-date=27 July 2020|work=Eurovoix|first=Neil|last=Farren}}

McDermott stepped down from the programme in 2021, and was replaced by Louise Cantillon.

Participation overview

class="wikitable"

+ Table key

style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | ◁

| Last place

style="text-align:center; background-color:#DDF;" |†

|Upcoming event

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Artist ! scope="col" \| Song ! scope="col" \| Language ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" \| Place ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" \| Points
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| {{Escyr\|2015\|Junior}} \| Aimee Banks \| "{{lang\|ga\|Réalta na mara\|i=unset}}" \| Irish{{Efn\|Contains one phrase in Latin}} \| style="text-align:center;" \| 12 \| style="text-align:center;" \| 36
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| {{Escyr\|2016\|Junior}} \| Zena Donnelly \| "{{lang\|ga\|Bríce ar bhríce\|i=unset}}" \| Irish, English \| style="text-align:center;" \| 10 \| style="text-align:center;" \| 122
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| {{Escyr\|2017\|Junior}} \| Muireann McDonnell \| "{{lang\|ga\|Súile glasa\|i=unset}}" \| Irish \| style="text-align:center;" \| 15 \| style="text-align:center;" \| 54
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| {{Escyr\|2018\|Junior}} \| Taylor Hynes \| "IOU" \| Irish \| style="text-align:center;" \| 15 \| style="text-align:center;" \| 48
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| {{Escyr\|2019\|Junior}} \| Anna Kearney \| "Banshee" \| Irish \| style="text-align:center;" \| 12 \| style="text-align:center;" \| 73
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| {{Escyr\|2021\|Junior}} \| Maiú Levi Lawlor \| "{{lang\|ga\|Saor\|i=unset}} (Disappear)" \| Irish{{efn\|Contains one repeated phrase in English and phrases in French}} \| style="text-align:center;" \| 18 \| style="text-align:center;" \| 44
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| {{Escyr\|2022\|Junior}} \| Sophie Lennon \| "{{lang\|ga\|Solas\|i=unset}}" \| Irish \| style="text-align:center;" \| 4 \| style="text-align:center;" \| 150
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| {{Escyr\|2023\|Junior}} \| Jessica McKean \| "{{lang\|ga\|Aisling\|i=unset}}" \| Irish \| style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" \| 16 ◁ \| style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" \| 42
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| {{Escyr\|2024\|Junior}} \| Enya Cox Dempsey \| "{{lang\|ga\|Le chéile\|i=unset}}" \| Irish \| style="text-align:center;" \| 15 \| style="text-align:center;" \| 55
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 2025 \| colspan="5" {{TBA\|Confirmed intention to participate †{{Cite web \|date=2025-01-25 \|title=Junior Eurovision 2025 {{ndash}} Adare Productions \|url=https://adare.submit.com/show/52 \|access-date=2025-01-25 \|website=Adare Productions \|language=en, ga}}{{Cite web \|last=Costumero \|first=Ruben \|last2=Mancheño \|first2=José Miguel \|date=2025-01-20 \|title=Irlanda confirma su participación en Eurovisión Junior 2025 \|trans-title=Ireland confirms participation in Junior Eurovision 2025 \|url=https://www.escplus.es/eurovision-junior/2025/irlanda-confirma-su-participacion-en-eurovision-junior-2025/ \|access-date=2025-01-20 \|website=ESCplus España \|language=es}}}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Artist

! scope="col" | Song

! scope="col" | Language

! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | Place

! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | Points

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2015|Junior}}

| Aimee Banks

| "{{lang|ga|Réalta na mara|i=unset}}"

| Irish{{Efn|Contains one phrase in Latin}}

| style="text-align:center;" | 12

| style="text-align:center;" | 36

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2016|Junior}}

| Zena Donnelly

| "{{lang|ga|Bríce ar bhríce|i=unset}}"

| Irish, English

| style="text-align:center;" | 10

| style="text-align:center;" | 122

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2017|Junior}}

| Muireann McDonnell

| "{{lang|ga|Súile glasa|i=unset}}"

| Irish

| style="text-align:center;" | 15

| style="text-align:center;" | 54

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2018|Junior}}

| Taylor Hynes

| "IOU"

| Irish

| style="text-align:center;" | 15

| style="text-align:center;" | 48

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2019|Junior}}

| Anna Kearney

| "Banshee"

| Irish

| style="text-align:center;" | 12

| style="text-align:center;" | 73

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2021|Junior}}

| Maiú Levi Lawlor

| "{{lang|ga|Saor|i=unset}} (Disappear)"

| Irish{{efn|Contains one repeated phrase in English and phrases in French}}

| style="text-align:center;" | 18

| style="text-align:center;" | 44

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2022|Junior}}

| Sophie Lennon

| "{{lang|ga|Solas|i=unset}}"

| Irish

| style="text-align:center;" | 4

| style="text-align:center;" | 150

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2023|Junior}}

| Jessica McKean

| "{{lang|ga|Aisling|i=unset}}"

| Irish

| style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | 16 ◁

| style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | 42

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2024|Junior}}

| Enya Cox Dempsey

| "{{lang|ga|Le chéile|i=unset}}"

| Irish

| style="text-align:center;" | 15

| style="text-align:center;" | 55

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 2025

| colspan="5" {{TBA|Confirmed intention to participate †{{Cite web |date=2025-01-25 |title=Junior Eurovision 2025 {{ndash}} Adare Productions |url=https://adare.submit.com/show/52 |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Adare Productions |language=en, ga}}{{Cite web |last=Costumero |first=Ruben |last2=Mancheño |first2=José Miguel |date=2025-01-20 |title=Irlanda confirma su participación en Eurovisión Junior 2025 |trans-title=Ireland confirms participation in Junior Eurovision 2025 |url=https://www.escplus.es/eurovision-junior/2025/irlanda-confirma-su-participacion-en-eurovision-junior-2025/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=ESCplus España |language=es}}}}

Commentators and spokespersons

The contests are broadcast online worldwide through the official Junior Eurovision Song Contest website junioreurovision.tv and YouTube. In 2015, the online broadcasts featured commentary in English by junioreurovision.tv editor Luke Fisher and 2011 Bulgarian Junior Eurovision Song Contest entrant Ivan Ivanov.{{cite web|url=http://www.junioreurovision.tv/page/blog?id=tonight_junior_eurovision_song_contest_2015|title=Tonight: Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015!|last=Fisher|first=Luke James|work=Junior Eurovision Song Contest – Bulgaria 2015|date=21 November 2015|access-date=21 November 2015}} The Irish broadcaster, TG4, sent their own commentators to the contest in order to provide commentary in the Irish language. Spokespersons were also chosen by the national broadcaster in order to announce the awarding points from France. The table below list the details of each commentator and spokesperson since 2015.

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" text-align: left; width: 500px;"
Year(s) !Commentator !Spokesperson !class="unsortable"\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row"\|{{Escyr\|2015\|Junior}} \|Stiofán Ó Fearail and Caitlín Nic Aoidh \|Anna Banks \|{{center\|{{cite tweet\|user=CaitlinNicAoidh\|number=668121190242910208\|date=21 November 2015\|access-date=22 November 2015\|title=Mise & @stiofanofearail réidh do chomórtas na hoíche anocht. @TG4TV #jesc2015 Bígí ag tacú leí ag úsáid #GoAimee\|language=Irish\|first=Caitlín\|last=Nic Aoidh}}}}
scope="row"\|{{Escyr\|2016\|Junior}} \|rowspan="2"\|Eoghan McDermott \|Andrea Leddy \|
scope="row"\|{{Escyr\|2017\|Junior}} \|Walter McCabe \|
scope="row"\|{{Escyr\|2018\|Junior}} \|Mícheál Ó Ciaraidh and Sinéad Ní Uallacháin \|Alex Hynes \|{{center\|{{cite web\|last1=Granger\|first1=Anthony\|title=Ireland: Mícheál Ó Ciarradh and Sinéad Ní Uallacháin to Commentate on Junior Eurovision\|url=https://eurovoix.com/2018/11/21/ireland-micheal-o-ciarradh-and-sinead-ni-uallachain-to-commentate-on-junior-eurovision/\|website=Eurovoix\|access-date=21 November 2018\|date=21 November 2018}}}}
scope="row"\|{{Escyr\|2019\|Junior}} \|Sinéad Ní Uallacháin \|Leo Kearney \|{{center\|{{cite web\|last=Filippidou\|first=Ifigeneia\|title=These are the Junior Eurovision 2019 spokespersons\|url=https://www.esc-plus.com/these-are-the-junior-eurovision-2019-spokespersons/\|access-date=26 November 2019\|website=esc-plus.com\|date=24 November 2019}}}}
scope="row"\|{{Escyr\|2020\|Junior}} \|{{N/A\|No broadcast}} \|{{N/A\|Did not participate}} \|{{N/A\|N/A}}
scope="row"\|{{Escyr\|2021\|Junior}} \|Louise Cantillon \|Reuben Levi Hackett \|{{center\|{{cite web\|last=Farren\|first=Neil\|title=🇮🇪 Ireland: Junior Eurovision 2021 Spokesperson and Commentator Revealed\|url=https://eurovoix.com/2021/12/17/ireland-junior-eurovision-2021-spokesperson-commentator-revealed/\|access-date=17 December 2021\|website=eurovoix\|date=17 December 2021}}}}
scope="row"\|{{Escyr\|2022\|Junior}} \|rowspan="2"\| Sinéad Ní Uallacháin \|Holly Lennon \|{{center\|{{Cite web \|url=https://www.tg4.ie/ga/sceideal/sceideal-an-lae/ \|title=TG4, Sceideal an Lae Irish Television Channel, Súil Eile \|date=1 December 2022 \|access-date=1 December 2022 \|language=ga-IE \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201000632/https://www.tg4.ie/ga/sceideal/sceideal-an-lae/ \|archive-date=1 December 2022 \|url-status=live}}}}
scope="row"\|{{Escyr\|2023\|Junior}} \|Louisa McKean \|{{center\|{{Cite web \|url=https://www.tg4.ie/ga/sceideal/sceideal-an-lae/ \|title=TG4 {{!}} Sceideal an Lae {{!}} Sceideal {{!}} Irish Television Chanel, Súil Eile \|website=TG4 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117001057/https://www.tg4.ie/ga/sceideal/sceideal-an-lae/ \| archive-date=2023-11-17 \|url-status=live \|access-date=2023-11-17}}}}
scope="row"\|{{Escyr\|2024\|Junior}} \|colspan="2" {{TBA}} \|{{center\|{{Cite web \|date=2024-11-06 \|title=TG4 {{!}} Daily Schedule {{!}} Saturday November 16th 2024 \|url=https://www.tg4.ie/en/irish-tv-schedule/daily-schedule/ \|access-date=2024-11-06 \|website=TG4 \|language=en, ga\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241106171229/https://www.tg4.ie/en/irish-tv-schedule/daily-schedule/\|archive-date=2024-11-06}}}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" text-align: left; width: 500px;"

Year(s)

!Commentator

!Spokesperson

!class="unsortable"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|{{Escyr|2015|Junior}}

|Stiofán Ó Fearail and Caitlín Nic Aoidh

|Anna Banks

|{{center|{{cite tweet|user=CaitlinNicAoidh|number=668121190242910208|date=21 November 2015|access-date=22 November 2015|title=Mise & @stiofanofearail réidh do chomórtas na hoíche anocht. @TG4TV #jesc2015 Bígí ag tacú leí ag úsáid #GoAimee|language=Irish|first=Caitlín|last=Nic Aoidh}}}}

scope="row"|{{Escyr|2016|Junior}}

|rowspan="2"|Eoghan McDermott

|Andrea Leddy

scope="row"|{{Escyr|2017|Junior}}

|Walter McCabe

scope="row"|{{Escyr|2018|Junior}}

|Mícheál Ó Ciaraidh and Sinéad Ní Uallacháin

|Alex Hynes

|{{center|{{cite web|last1=Granger|first1=Anthony|title=Ireland: Mícheál Ó Ciarradh and Sinéad Ní Uallacháin to Commentate on Junior Eurovision|url=https://eurovoix.com/2018/11/21/ireland-micheal-o-ciarradh-and-sinead-ni-uallachain-to-commentate-on-junior-eurovision/|website=Eurovoix|access-date=21 November 2018|date=21 November 2018}}}}

scope="row"|{{Escyr|2019|Junior}}

|Sinéad Ní Uallacháin

|Leo Kearney

|{{center|{{cite web|last=Filippidou|first=Ifigeneia|title=These are the Junior Eurovision 2019 spokespersons|url=https://www.esc-plus.com/these-are-the-junior-eurovision-2019-spokespersons/|access-date=26 November 2019|website=esc-plus.com|date=24 November 2019}}}}

scope="row"|{{Escyr|2020|Junior}}

|{{N/A|No broadcast}}

|{{N/A|Did not participate}}

|{{N/A|N/A}}

scope="row"|{{Escyr|2021|Junior}}

|Louise Cantillon

|Reuben Levi Hackett

|{{center|{{cite web|last=Farren|first=Neil|title=🇮🇪 Ireland: Junior Eurovision 2021 Spokesperson and Commentator Revealed|url=https://eurovoix.com/2021/12/17/ireland-junior-eurovision-2021-spokesperson-commentator-revealed/|access-date=17 December 2021|website=eurovoix|date=17 December 2021}}}}

scope="row"|{{Escyr|2022|Junior}}

|rowspan="2"| Sinéad Ní Uallacháin

|Holly Lennon

|{{center|{{Cite web |url=https://www.tg4.ie/ga/sceideal/sceideal-an-lae/ |title=TG4, Sceideal an Lae Irish Television Channel, Súil Eile |date=1 December 2022 |access-date=1 December 2022 |language=ga-IE |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201000632/https://www.tg4.ie/ga/sceideal/sceideal-an-lae/ |archive-date=1 December 2022 |url-status=live}}}}

scope="row"|{{Escyr|2023|Junior}}

|Louisa McKean

|{{center|{{Cite web |url=https://www.tg4.ie/ga/sceideal/sceideal-an-lae/ |title=TG4 {{!}} Sceideal an Lae {{!}} Sceideal {{!}} Irish Television Chanel, Súil Eile |website=TG4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117001057/https://www.tg4.ie/ga/sceideal/sceideal-an-lae/ | archive-date=2023-11-17 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-11-17}}}}

scope="row"|{{Escyr|2024|Junior}}

|colspan="2" {{TBA}}

|{{center|{{Cite web |date=2024-11-06 |title=TG4 {{!}} Daily Schedule {{!}} Saturday November 16th 2024 |url=https://www.tg4.ie/en/irish-tv-schedule/daily-schedule/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=TG4 |language=en, ga|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241106171229/https://www.tg4.ie/en/irish-tv-schedule/daily-schedule/|archive-date=2024-11-06}}}}

Gallery

File:Aimee Banks at stage of JESC 2015 (2).jpg|Aimee Banks during the rehearsals in Sofia ({{Escyr|2015|Junior}})

File:JESC 2016 Zena Donnelly (Ireland).jpg|Zena Donnelly during the rehearsals in Valletta ({{Escyr|2016|Junior}})

File:Taylor Hynes at JESC 2018 (1).jpg|Taylor Hynes during the rehearsals in Minsk ({{Escyr|2018|Junior}})

File:Anna Kearney 2019.jpg|Anna Kearney during the rehearsals in Gliwice ({{Escyr|2019|Junior}})

Notes and references

=Notes=

=References=

Category:Countries in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest

Ireland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest

History

=''Junior Eurovision Éire''=

Participation overview

Commentators and spokespersons

Gallery

See also

Notes and references

=Notes=

=References=