Ireland's Lesley Roy has said she is "happy and proud to move on to my next adventure" after missing out on a place in Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final.
Taking to the stage in Rotterdam's Ahoy arena on Tuesday night, the Dubliner gave an energetic performance of her song Maps. Singing in bare feet, Roy appeared alongside an elaborate backdrop of moving paper cut-outs.
Her performance was met with rapturous applause from the live audience and plenty of praise across social media. But, unfortunately, the voting did not go Ireland's way and she did not secure a place in Saturday's Grand Final.
Thankfully Lesley found the right way to go. #Eurovision stage - this way! #IRL 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/LacnUs6XrV
— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) May 18, 2021
Writing on Instagram on Wednesday, the Balbriggan native said: "I'm gutted & still a little confused as to what happened on the production side with cameras breaking before we started, but I'm extremely grateful for having represented my country, my family and the LGBTQ community."
"I'm blessed that I had such an amazing team with me, [Head of Delegation] Michael Kealy and RTÉ allowed me to work with a dream team of creative directors and backing vocalists," she continued.
"We built something different because I believed that is what people wanted but there was always the risk of people not understanding it. I gave it my all for over a year and now I'm happy and proud to move on to my next adventure with my amazing wife."
Out of the 16 countries who competed in the first semi-final, ten move forward to the final on Saturday. They are Norway, Israel, Russia, Azerbaijan, Malta, Lithuania, Cyprus, Sweden, Belgium and Ukraine.
#IRE Ireland / Lesley Roy - Maps.
— Líam Rudden 💙🧢 (@LiamRudden) May 18, 2021
Eire back on form, cracking entry - My wee mammy would be jumping up and down at this point were she still with us, and rightly so. Best Irish song for years. Love it. Imaginative and inventive staging too. #Eurovision #Eurovision2021 pic.twitter.com/xd9EqjmqAX
Ireland last qualified for the Grand Final in 2018 with Ryan O'Shaughnessy and his song Together. Roy was chosen to represent Ireland in last year's Song Contest, which was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ireland last won the song competition 25 years ago with Eimear Quinn and The Voice.
Speaking to RTÉ ahead of her performance, an excited Roy said: "Whatever way things go, and I just know I will be floored hearing Marty's voice giving the commentary. It's tradition, the child in me that watched it, I get emotional about it."
Cheering on the local woman in #balbriggan #Eurovision @lesleyroyreal @RTE_Ents pic.twitter.com/wr7NywcrDC
— Sinéad Crowley (@SineadCrowley) May 18, 2021
She added: "All the crew at home in Balbriggan have the flags and posters out, but I've told them I don't want to see any pictures until afterwards because I think I'd lose it! It's so emotional. I know that they will be cheering me on and just to know that I have that support is incredible."
The second Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Final takes place on Thursday at 8pm. Watch it on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
The Grand Final takes place on Saturday on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player from 8pm.
