Eoghan Quigg is bidding to represent Ireland in this year’s Euroviaion Song Contest.
Eurovision hopeful: Eoghan Quigg.
The young Dungiven singer is one of five acts announced by RTE who will take part in Eurosong 2014 on The Late Late Show on Friday 28 February next.
The 21-year-old singer is hoping “The Movie Song” will see him through to represent Ireland in the Danish capital Copenhagen where the Irish entry will have to qualify from the semi-final on Thursday 8 May to compete in the final two days later.
Quigg was only 15 when he auditioned for the X Factor talent contest, going on to finish third behind Alexandra Burke and JLS.
His Eurosong mentor, Mark Murphy, believes the 21-year-old has the talent to go all the way and be the first Irish act to win Eurovision since 1996 when Eimear Quinn top the voting in Oslo with “The Voice.”
Mark said: “Any 15-year-old told ‘you’ve got it’ by Simon Cowell has to have talent and I believe Eoghan Quigg has all the qualities needed to represent Ireland at the highest level.
Dana performing “All Kinds of Everything in 1970.”
“Eoghan has proven he is at ease performing in front of millions of viewers and now at 21 years old I feel it is the right time for him to make Ireland proud and represent our country at Eurovision 2014.”
The other four acts bidding to represent Ireland are: Eurosong veteran Patricia Roe and her self-penned song “Don’t Hold On”; Can-linn, featuring Kasey Smith, who will perform “Heartbeat” written by Hazel Kaneswaran, Patrizia Helander, Jonas Gladnikoff and Rasmus Palmgren; Andrew Mann who will sing “Be Mine” penned by Cormac Battle; and Laura O’Neill who will perform “You Don’t Remember Me” composed by Don Mescall and Lucie Silvas.
Ireland hold the record for the most Eurovision wins ever – seven in total.
Derry’s own Dana was the first winner when, as a 17-year-old Thornhill College pupil, she shot to fame with “All Kinds of Everything” in Amsterdam in 1970.
Johnny Logan winning with “What’s Another Year” in 1980.
Derry has had several successes in the competition – Philip Coulter co-wrote Sandie Shaw’s “Puppet on a String” in 1967 and Johnny Logan, whose father came from the city, won with “What’s Another Year” and “Hold Me Now” in 1980 and 1987 respectively as well as composing Linda Martin’s “Why Me” in 1992.
Ireland’s other winners were Niamh Cavanagh with “In Your Eyes” in 1993 and Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan who sang “Rock on Roll Kids” the following year.
Ireland’s representative last year, Ryan Dolan, finished last, scoring only five points with “Only Survives.”
Denmark won the right to host this year’s contest when Emmeilie de Forest won last year’s event in Oslo with “Only Teardrops.”
Ireland hold the record for the most Eurovision wins ever – seven in total – and made it to the final in 2013 only for their representative Ryan Dolan to collapse to last place with the track Only Love Survives, scoring just five points.
Meanwhile, there is still no news on who the UK representative might be, in spite of recent rumours that Geri Halliwell was set to fly the United Kingdom flag in Copenhagen.
The
TÉ today announced the five Irish acts and songs which will be competing to represent Ireland in this year’s Eurovision. Patricia Roe, Eoghan Quigg, Can-linn, Andrew Mann and Laura O’Neill will battle it out to perform in Copenhagen.
Last November RTÉ nominated five mentors asked each of them to select an act and a song which they believe has the potential to be a Eurovision winner. As we already know, we haven’t had much success in recent years…
The public will get the chance to hear the five songs for the first time tomorrow, Thursday 6 February, on RTÉ 2FM from 2pm with Rick O’Shea.
The winning act will be selected on Eurosong 2014 on The Late Late Show on Friday 28 February. As was the case in previous years, Ireland’s Eurovision entry will be selected by a combination of public and regional jury vote.
This year’s Eurovision will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, with Ireland competing in the second semi-final on Thursday 8 May. The Eurovision final takes place on Saturday 10 May.
