Ireland's Bambie Thug has spoken about how grateful they are for the support from their fans at this year's Eurovision Grand Final.
The Cork native artist came sixth in Saturday night's final in Malmö, Sweden, with their genre-shifting track Doomsday Blue, marking Ireland's most successful achievement since 2000.
Speaking to RTÉ after the final, Bambie said the support from their fans "means everything".
"It means everything to me. I've been in this industry for seven years, writing for others and having my art overlooked.
"Finally we have this platform and people are recognising and we're getting messages from major labels. Finally, they're taking note."
Becoming emotional, Bambie said that for so long they felt "in the dark", and that this experience has been "so solidifying, so rooting".
"I'm beyond proud and beyond grateful for the love," they continued.
"We're a tiny country and I don't think anyone screams louder than the Irish.
"I am so proud to be Irish and to be representing this country and to have that war chant behind me."
They added to their fans: "I love you so much, we've just put Ireland on the map globally guys. I have so much art to show you, this is only the start."
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Simon Harris said the Eurovision was "Bambie Thug’s night" in Irish eyes.
Ireland attracted the top 12 point allocation from the Australian jury vote, as well as a 10 from the UK audience as part of a total of 136 from the overall audience vote, but ultimately failed to catch favourites Croatia and eventual winner Switzerland.
At the end of their dramatic performance on Saturday night Bambie declared: "Love will always triumph hate."
Watch: Bambie Thug performs Doomsday Blue during the Eurovision Grand Final.
Mr Harris congratulated Bambie Thug for a "stunning performance" and said they were a "tour de force at Eurovision 2024".
"They performed with passion, stopped us in our tracks and did us proud. The eruption of applause in the stadium at the end of Ireland's performance spoke for itself," he said in a statement.
"Congratulations to Switzerland on the win and well done to Sweden for hosting another showstopper. Thank you to our closest musical ally in Europe – Australia – for our only douze points!
"It's Bambie Thug’s night as far as we’re concerned.
"Well done Bambie."
Bambie was cheered on by people from their home town, Macroom, in Co Cork, who gathered together to watch their performance in Malmö on a big screen.
It comes after the singer, who has been outspoken about their pro-Palestine views, accused the Israeli broadcaster, Kan, of a rule break and said they have been waiting to hear back from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) about what action would be taken.
Additional reporting: Press Association
