Ailsha's explosive Celtic-metal track Go Tobann has been revealed as the second song in the race to represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest this May in Malmo, Sweden.
The song made its debut on The Ray D'Arcy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 on Tuesday afternoon, and four more Irish Eurovision hopefuls will be revealed on the show each day this week.
Song: Go Tobann
Artist: Ailsha
Composers: Ailsha and Peadar Connolly Davey, produced by Ailsha and Beardfire Studios
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The Wicklow rocker, aka the 'Irish Princess of Misfits', has taken the music scene by storm in 2023 with four consecutive releases featured on BBC Radio 1.
She is no stranger to the stage, having graced festivals like Electric Picnic and recently selling out a headline show at the Workman's Cellar in Dublin.
Her catchy Eurosong entry Go Tobann humorously speaks to the Irish experience of learning the language in school, only to remember a few cherished phrases like 'Go Tobann' ('suddenly').
Ailsha said of her inspiration behind the track: "I wanted to create a banger of a track that incorporated my own alternative sound with a twist by using some recognisable Irish phrases scattered throughout the song.
"As a child my family did some occasional work in Dingle, where I learned conversational Irish by visiting a neighbour for tea every day after school while we were there. I learned to love the language and was awarded a Fáinne in secondary school.
"However, as I grew older I gradually felt my Irish fade away only to remember a few phrases. In Ireland I feel we don't use our native language enough and it's a shame because it's awesome.
"I hope Go Tobann - although the song is overall a bit of craic - makes Ireland, and Europe, see and love who we are."
A total of six songs were selected for Eurosong 2024 from hundreds of entries received by RTÉ following a callout for submissions last year.
On Monday, Erica Cody's Love Me Like I Do was revealed as the first song in the running to represent Ireland at this year's Eurovision.
All acts will compete on The Late Late Eurosong special on 26 January, 9:35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 semi-finals will take place on 7 and 9 May, with the grand final following on 11 May.
