A report from the Irish Head of Delegation has indicated that the Irish selection for Eurovision 2022 will take place on January 21st.
Speaking to The Euro Trip podcast in his capacity as Head Of Delegation, Michael Kealy stated that the Irish selection will be decided using The Late Late Show. This program will be provisionally be broadcast on the 21st of January.
This follows on from hints earlier this year that Ireland would return to a national final. The show will present several songs. This is the first time Ireland will choose its entry through a national final since 2015, when Molly Sterling was selected with “Playing With Numbers”.
Kealy’s full comments on the date were as follows:
“You can pencil in but don’t hold me to it, the 21st of January. We’ll probably have a combination of a national jury, an international jury and the public deciding which of those five or six songs will represent us in Turin. I think it’s going to be 33% Irish public, 33% national jury and 33% international jury. That’s my thinking at the moment but that might change.”
Michael Kealy, Ireland HoL, on the Euro Trip podcast
In the same interview, Kealy also confirmed that RTÉ had received 320 submissions for 2022. Further details about the show’s composition and scoring process are yet to be decided. It is however clear that RTÉ is trying a different approach. In recent years, they have received some criticism about their selection process, including from former Irish Eurovision winner Johnny Logan.
Kealy also had some comments about the abilities of RTÉ in comparison to other broadcasters:
“It’s quite simply down to finance. I would love to do a Melfest style show where we have six weeks of heats and finals but it’s down to finance. RTÉ isn’t a rich organisation – we’re the opposite of that. So we have to be prudent about how we do things.
Michael Kealy, Ireland HoL, on the Euro Trip podcast
Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest
Lesley Roy returned to represent Ireland in Rotterdam this year, following on from her selection in 2020. Her song in 2020 was the upbeat, bubblegum pop-inspired entry “Story of My Life”.
Lesley took to the stage again in 2021, performing in slot number 7 in the first semi-final, with “Maps”. Ireland failed to qualify from the semi-final. The song scored just 20 points and therefore finished in last place. The aim for the Irish delegation this year will be to improve upon that.
Are you looking forward to hearing Ireland’s entry next year? How do you feel about the return of a national final?
Let us know in the comments below and on social media @ESCXTRA.
