Less than a week ago, TG4 confirmed that Ireland will once again participate in Junior Eurovision. The search for the 2018 Irish entrant is now officially underway.
Applications accepted until July 23
Singers aged between 9 and 14 who are potentially interested in representing Ireland in Belarus have until July 23 to apply to TG4. TG4 is once again working in partnership with Adare Production to select their entrant for Minsk.
National final to select entrant
Ireland will select its representative through a national final that follows two rounds of audition. A panel will be responsible to look through all applications received and select the singers that will qualify for the second round of auditions. During that round round, artists will have to perform their potential entry for Junior Eurovision, to be sung in the Irish language. Those who qualify will participate in the televised national final.
Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018
Belarus’s capital Minsk will host the 2018 edition of Junior Eurovision. This is the second time the event takes place in the city, that previously hosted it in 2010. So far, 12 countries have confirmed their intent of participating in Minsk. France will return to the contest for the first time since their only appearance in 2004, and Wales will instead make a debut.
Ireland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Ireland is one of the newer countries at Junior Eurovision, having made three appearances at the contest so far. It debuted in 2015 with Aimee Banks and her entry “Réalta na mara”, placing 12th. Their best result came in 2016 when Zena Donnelly placed 10th with “Bríce ar bhríce“. In Tbilisi Muireann McDonnell represented the Emerald Isle with her beautiful entry “Suíle Glasa”. Unfortunately, she placed second to last with 54 points.
Can Ireland score its first win in Minsk? Did you like their 2017 entry?
Let us know in the comments below or on social media @ESCXTRA.
Still waiting for Bulgaria to change their minds about returning to Junior Eurovision.