Earlier this year, Ireland confirmed that they will be present at this year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest, which is due to take place in Warsaw. However, as with circumstances changing, TG4 has revealed to Eurovoix, that they had to withdraw from this year’s competition.
Withdrawal due to COVID-19 and other restrictions
In TG4’s e-mail to Eurovoix, they have confirmed that their withdrawal, is mainly due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the restrictions on large gatherings of people, as well as travel restrictions.
At the time of writing, Poland is not included in the list of countries, which are able to return to Ireland, without requiring to self-isolate upon their return to Ireland.
Despite their withdrawal from this year’s competition. TG4 have stated to Eurovoix that they are hoping to return to the competition in 2021.
Junior Eurovision 2020 – what we know so far
Junior Eurovision 2020 is to be held on November 29 in the Polish capital of Warsaw. The slogan for the show is ‘Move The World’. Following Viki Gabor’s victory on home soil in 2019, this will mark TVP’s second consecutive time hosting.
Note, unlike previous years, the show is due to be held in a TV studio, rather than an arena. The venue itself is yet to be confirmed, and will either be ATM Studio or Transcolor Studio.
To date, the following countries have confirmed participation in the contest:
Ireland at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest’
Ireland has part in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest five times. The country debuted in 2015 with Aimee Banks and her song ‘Réalta na Mara‘, which placed twelfth. Their best result is in 2016, when they sent Zena Donnelly with her song ‘Bríce Ar Bhríce‘, which placed tenth in Malta.
In 2019, Ireland selected their Junior Eurovision entry Junior Eurovision Éire, which saw Anna Kearney selected as the 2019 Junior Eurovision Irish participant, with her song ‘Banshee‘. Overall, Anna managed to finish twelfth overall with 73 points from the online vote and jury.
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