Ireland's 1994 Eurovision winner Charlie McGettigan has said he plans to hand back his trophy in support of last year's winner Nemo, who is returning the 2024 trophy in protest over Israel's continued participation.
Widespread opposition to the two-year war in Gaza has led to mounting calls for Israel to be excluded and has already prompted five countries, including Ireland, to pull out of next year's contest.
Yesterday, the 2024 winner Nemo handed back their award, saying in a post to Instagram: "I no longer feel this trophy belongs on my shelf."
McGettigan, who won the song contest alongside Paul Harrington in 1994 with Rock 'n' Roll Kids, said he recieved a message from Nemo on Instagram which prompted him to follow suit and hand back his award.
In a video posted by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign on social media, McGettigan said of Nemo's communication: "They were saying that in protest at Israel's inclusion in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, they are returning their trophy to the European Broadcasting Union.
"They came across as sincere and a very intelligent person and stated their case very well, and therefore in support of Nemo I would like to return my trophy to the EBU as well."
📣 We are delighted to announce that 1994 Eurovision winner for Ireland Charlie McGettigan has decided to hand back his trophy to the EBU in protest at apartheid Israel's continued participation in the contest! #BoycottEurovision pic.twitter.com/TuJeQWUsuO
— IPSC (@ipsc48) December 12, 2025
However, McGettigan said that, as of yet, he hasn't been able to track down the award they received back in 1994.
"Unfortunately our win was in 1994 and I can't lay my hands on whatever trophy we received back then, but if I do find it I will return my trophy as well. Thanks for listening," he added.
Nemo, who was the first non-binary person to win the Eurovision, said in a statement posted to Instagram: "Eurovision says it stands for unity, inclusion, and dignity for all. Those values made this contest meaningful to me.
"But Israel's continued participation, during what the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry has concluded to be a genocide, shows a clear conflict between those ideals and the decisions made by the EBU."
Nemo, 26, said that "when entire countries withdraw", "it should be clear that something is deeply wrong".
"That's why I've decided that I'm sending my trophy back to the EBU headquarters in Geneva", The Code singer said.
The Eurovision Song Contest, the world's biggest live televised music event, is put on by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
On 4 December, members of the world's largest public service media alliance decided no vote was needed on Israel's inclusion in the annual contest.
RTÉ and public service broadcasters in Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland have announced they are boycotting the 70th edition of the song contest, to be held in Vienna in May.
Some 37 countries took part in the 2025 edition in Basel, Switzerland, won by Austrian operatic singer JJ with Wasted Love.
