Ireland’s Eurovision journey has come to an end for 2025, with EMMY failing to qualify for Saturday’s Grand Final in Basel, Switzerland.
The Norwegian-born singer performed Laika Party, a playful tribute to the Soviet space dog, in the second semi-final but did not make it through to the next stage of the competition.
Ireland ties Sweden for the most Eurovision wins, but last night's result was disappointing following Ireland's return to the final last year with Bambie Thug. It means the country will not be represented in this year's Grand Final, watched annually by millions around the world.
Watch: Irish fans react to Ireland missing out on a spot in the Eurovision Grand Final
Israel was among the ten countries that progressed to the final amid protests around its inclusion in the contest.
The semi-final performance of Israeli singer Yuval Raphael did not see the same "disruption" as an early rehearsal for New Day Will Rise, and she was cheered by fans as she was confirmed for the final.
Earlier yesterday, Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR, which is organising the event, said six people obstructed Raphael's performance with "oversized flags and whistles" and were subsequently escorted out of the venue.
Former government minister Alan Shatter called for clarification on whether any of the RTÉ Eurovision jury members advocated that Israel be excluded from the competition.
In a statement, Mr Shatter said the Eurovision jury members are "expected to provide a balanced perspective, considering age, gender and professional backgrounds and to be objective".
"A major issue that the EBU should consider is whether RTÉ's Irish-appointed jury fulfils such expectation or whether it is contaminated by anti-Israel bias and hostility.
"It should be publicly clarified whether any of its members have advocated that Israel be excluded from Eurovision," he said.
Ireland has not placed high in the Eurovision in recent years
Ireland has not placed high in recent years, with the last win coming in 1996 when Eimear Quinn's The Voice took the trophy.
Other winners include Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan with Rock 'n’ Roll Kids in 1994, Niamh Kavanagh with In Your Eyes the previous year, and Linda Martin coming first with Why Me in 1992.
Dana first won the contest for Ireland in 1970 with the million-seller All Kinds Of Everything; 10 years later, Johnny Logan scooped the top spot with What’s Another Year, and again in 1987 with Hold Me Now.
Watch: Check out the 10 countries that have secured a spot in the Grand Final during the second semi-final
Other Irish qualifiers include Ryan Dolan, who finished last in 2013 with Only Love Survives, and Jedward twice in the previous two years, as well as Niamh Kavanagh in 2010.
Those who made it to the Grand Final this year include Austria's JJ (Johannes Pietsch), who is among the competition favourites with song Wasted Love, Armenian singer PARG, Denmark’s singer Sissal and Luxembourg’s Laura Thorn.
Also advancing to the final are Finland’s black leather-wearing Erika Vikman, Latvian band Tautumeitas, Malta’s high-energy diva Miriana Conte and Greece’s singer Klavdia.
The others who did not thrill TV audiences included Australia’s Go-Jo (Marty Zambotto) with the tongue-in-cheek Milkshake Man and Czechia’s Adonxs, whose Eurovision journey has also come to an end.
Also during the semi-final, British group Remember Monday, who go straight through to the Grand Final on Saturday as "one of the big five", performed their song What The Hell Just Happened? along with France’s Louane with the soulful Mamam and German duo Abor & Tynna with dancey Baller - who also took to the stage.
Here is the running order for the Grand Final this Saturday:
1. Norway | Kyle Alessandro – Lighter
2. Luxembourg | Laura Thorn – La Poupée Monte Le Son
3. Estonia | Tommy Cash – Espresso Macchiato
4. Israel | Yuval Raphael – New Day Will Rise
5. Lithuania | Katarsis – Tavo Akys
6. Spain | Melody – ESA DIVA
7. Ukraine | Ziferblat – Bird of Pray
8. United Kingdom | Remember Monday – What The Hell Just Happened?
9. Austria | JJ – Wasted Love
10. Iceland | VÆB – RÓA
11. Latvia | Tautumeitas – Bur Man Laimi
12. Netherlands | Claude – C'est La Vie
13. Finland | Erika Vikman – ICH KOMME
14. Italy | Lucio Corsi | Volevo Essere Un Duro
15. Poland | Justyna Steczkowska – GAJA
16. Germany | Abor & Tynna – Baller
17. Greece | Klavdia – Asteromáta
18. Armenia | PARG – SURVIVOR
19. Switzerland | Zoë Më – Voyage
20. Malta | Miriana Conte – SERVING
21. Portugal | NAPA – Deslocado
22. Denmark | Sissal – Hallucination
23. Sweden | KAJ – Bara Bada Bastu
24. France | Louane – maman
25. San Marino | Gabry Ponte – Tutta L’Italia
26. Albania | Shkodra Elektronike – Zjerm
Watch the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, on Saturday 17 May from 8pm.
