Eurovision Song Contest 2013

Live from the Malmö Arena, Sweden, artists from 16 countries, including Ireland's entry Only Love Survives, sung by Ryan Dolan, will take to the stage tonight for a place in the Grand Final next Saturday in the 58th annual contest of song. Viewers in Ireland will be able to vote tonight for any of the other fifteen contenders.

Introduced by Petra Mede.
Television commentary by Marty Whelan.

Ryan Dolan will represent Ireland at the 58th Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden in May. Ryan composed his song Only Love Survives with Wez Devine.

Ryan Dolan is a young singer-songwriter from Strabane in Co. Tyrone. He has played support to many acts over the years including Tinchy Stryder, Jedward and many more. Dolan has been described as one of the most exciting homegrown musical talents to be discovered in Ireland in recent years. His YouTube channel has received over 800,000 hits.

Dolan said, "I am thrilled to have been chosen to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. I'd like to thank my family, friends and my mentor Stuart for all their support over the last few months. It's such an honour to have been chosen to represent Ireland at Eurovision. I can't wait to perform in Malmo in May."

Co-composer Wez Devine is a 34-year-old songwriter/producer originally from Malahide, Co. Dublin now based in Lifford, Co.Donegal. So far the fruits of their labour include being featured on BBC Radio1 in the UK in 2012 - their track titled The Secret by Zenemy DJz featuring Dolan found great support and was daytime play-listed by the giants of the station Sara Cox, Hugh Stevens and Scott Mills.

They are hopeful that their latest composition Only Love Survives will bring Eurovision back to Ireland for the eighth time.

Dolan's Eurovision mentor is Spotlight Productions director Stuart O'Connor. O'Connor is the man behind all Jedward's live tours in the last three years. He devised the performance of Waterline at last year's contest.

O'Connor recently produced and directed The Best of Eurovision Show with six previous winners Johnny Logan, Linda Martin, Niamh Kavanagh, Dana, Charlie McGettigan and Paul Harrington. He was a judge on RTÉ's Supercrew and choreographed the highly acclaimed RTÉ Big Music Week Lipdub YouTube video.