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Interview Irish RTÉ considers national final for 2022 Eurovision

Irish RTÉ considers national final for 2022 Eurovision

Lesley Roy, First Rehearsal, Ireland, Rotterdam Ahoy, 8 May 2021 — EBU / Andres Putting
Lesley Roy, First Rehearsal, Ireland, Rotterdam Ahoy, 8 May 2021

After finishing last in the first semi-final of Eurovision 2021, Irish broadcaster RTÉ is considering changes to how it selects its entry for the next Contest.

Lesley Roy, Ireland, Second Rehearsal, Rotterdam Ahoy, 12 May 2021
Lesley Roy, Ireland, Second Rehearsal, Rotterdam Ahoy, 12 May 2021

Head of the Irish Eurovision delegation Michael Kealy lays the blame squarely on a lack of money. “Other countries are able to invest significantly more money and resources in their selection processes, staging and support teams than a small chronically underfunded broadcaster like RTÉ, that’s unfortunately a fact of life we can’t ignore.”

He promises a “virtual Eurovision forum” to ask fans for ideas about how seven-times-winning Ireland might recapture its glory years.

He added: “I feel it’s time we reverted to giving the public their say in what we do but we must find an effective and cost effective way of doing that.”

Source: The Sun Ireland