Past Irish Eurovision participants have spoken out in support of RTÉ's position that Ireland will not take part in the 2026 contest if Israel is allowed to compete.
Bambie Thug, who represented Ireland in Malmö in 2024, said they were proud of RTÉ’s decision. Posting on Instagram, they wrote: "I fully support RTÉ’s decision to not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
"I’m proud of RTÉ and the entire delegation for making a stand and I hope this can set an example for other countries. Echoing RTÉ, it would be unconscionable to participate given the current circumstances. I urge the EBU to make the right moral decision and protect the future of the Eurovision Song Contest."
Songwriter Phil Coulter also backed the broadcaster. Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster, Coulter said he was "100% behind" the decision. The Derry-born musician, who co-wrote the UK’s 1967 winning entry Puppet On A String for Sandie Shaw, said there was a "double standard" because Russia and Belarus had previously been expelled.
Coulter added: "We can’t normalise what’s going on in Gaza. It’s not a question of disapproval, it’s a question of absolute disgust. I think the only sensible thing and the only decent thing for RTÉ to do is to withdraw from the contest if Israel is allowed to perform."
He noted that while a song contest was "not going to change the world", performers still had a responsibility: "We musicians, songwriters, performers, are human beings with consciences and with our conscience still very alert."
Asked if the BBC should take a similar stand, he replied: "I do. I think it’s a question of conscience. I’m quite sure that throughout the United Kingdom, people are equally disgusted by what’s going on in Gaza."
Coulter has a long history with Eurovision. As well as co-writing Puppet On A String, he co-wrote the UK’s 1968 entry Congratulations for Cliff Richard, which finished second, and Luxembourg’s 1975 entry Toi, which came fifth.
On the same programme, former Irish Eurovision winner Dana said "anyone with a heart would be devastated by the catastrophic situation in Gaza". She argued there was a need for a "safe space without political pressure" where "ordinary people can come together".
The BBC, which is part of Eurovision's Big Five and is guaranteed entry, declined to comment when asked about its position.
RTÉ announced this week that it would not participate in Vienna in 2026 if Israel is allowed to compete, citing what Director General Kevin Bakhurst called "the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza" and the targeting of journalists. The stance has been welcomed by the National Union of Journalists’ Dublin Broadcasting Branch and by Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers.
Broadcasters in Spain and Slovenia have also raised concerns, and Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS has said it will withdraw if Israel takes part. The EBU has said it is consulting with members and that broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm their participation.
The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, marking the event’s 70th anniversary, is scheduled to take place in Vienna next May.
Additional reporting: Press Association
