Representing Ireland this year, Wild Youth will compete in the first Eurovision Song Contest semi-final tonight, Tuesday, 9 May.
The Eurovision Song Contest annual extravaganza kicks off in Liverpool tonight. Hoping to end Ireland’s four-year losing streak, Wild Youth will fight for a place in this weekend’s final.
Wild Youth will be competing against 14 other countries for one of ten spots in Saturday’s grand final in the Liverpool Arena, otherwise known as the M&S Bank Arena.
Ireland takes on the Eurovision semi-final tonight – will you be tuning in?
Dublin-based band Wild Youth will perform ‘We Are One’ tonight to fight for a spot in the final of Eurovision 2023. If successful, the band will end Ireland’s four-year losing streak.
Tonight, Wild Youth will be the sixth act to take the stage in Liverpool’s 10,000-capacity M&S Bank Arena.
The grand final and the two semi-finals will be hosted by singer Alesha Dixon, actor Hannah Waddingham, and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina.
Eurovision staple Graham Norton will be part of the presenting team for the final as well as commentating with comedian Mel Giedroyc.
Ireland at Eurovision – a record seven wins
Wild Youth will be fighting to end a four-year losing streak for Ireland, with the last successful act being Ryan O’Shaughnessy finishing in 16th place with his song ‘Together’ in 2018.
Since its inception, Ireland has competed in the Eurovision Song Contest over 50 times and, to this day, holds a record seven wins. Ireland’s last triumph was in 1996 with Eimear Quinn’s ‘The Voice’.
Wild Youth’s Conor O’Donohoe said on Sunday, “It’s all starting to feel very real. Everyone’s getting here now, all the press are here and family are starting to fly in, so it’s all starting to kind of really settle in”.
Voting rules are completely different this year. Firstly, viewers will be the ones who decide which countries qualify for the semi-finals.
Furthermore, for the first time ever, countries outside of the competition will also be able to vote online and on the app for their favourite acts.
Eurovision Liverpool 2023 – hosting on behalf of Ukraine
Ukraine were the 2022 winners of the Eurovision Song Contest with folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra and their track ‘Stefania’.
However, due to the ongoing war in their country, the UK will play host on Ukraine’s behalf since Sam Ryder took second place for the UK last year.
When it comes to the favourite for Eurovision 2023, Swedish singer Loreen has been named the bookies favourite.
The 39-year-old singer is returning to the competition for the first time in over a decade after triumphing in 2012 with her super popular dance-pop anthem ‘Euphoria’. Her song for this year, ‘Tattoo, was inspired by a photo of an Irish mountaintop.
Will you be tuning in to the Eurovision Song Contest this year? If so, find out how you can cast your vote here.
