Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh has said she respects RTÉ's decision not to take part in, or broadcast, the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 after Israel's participation was confirmed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
"I respect RTÉ for making the decision to pull out before an artist is involved," she told RTÉ Entertainment, noting that recent years have been particularly difficult for performers who travel with a delegation and can find themselves expected to answer for issues far beyond their music.
"When you go over there, you are technically representing you and RTÉ and the delegation... and the country," she said.
"And the reality is you are held responsible for what's happening in that space."
Kavanagh, who won the Eurovision for Ireland in 1993 with In Your Eyes, said the contest can still be "worth it" for a young Irish artist.
"I think anything that your heart is in is worth it," she said.
Even without winning, she believes there is value in the experience of performing on such a major stage and learning the discipline that comes with it.
Her advice is simple: "Don't try to be Eurovision. Don't try to be anything other than yourself in that space."
Watch: Niamh Kavanagh and Stephen Vincent perform a foxtrot to Destination Anywhere from The Commitments.
Kavanagh is now three weeks into RTÉ One's Dancing with the Stars, where she has already had a noticeable jump in scores. She opened the series with a salsa that earned 17 points, before scoring 28 the following week with a quickstep. She also made it through Movie Week, dancing a foxtrot with professional partner Stephen Vincent, scoring 23 points.
This week, the pair will take on a cha-cha-cha to Shania Twain's That Don't Impress Me Much for Country Week.
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Dancing with the Stars reveals songs and dances ahead of Country Week
Kavanagh said one of the biggest challenges has been learning to stop overthinking her dancing on stage, after years of performing as a singer.
"Just getting over myself is a really big part of it," she said.
"Getting over the fact that I'm a woman who's 58 and I'm throwing myself around in fringes and dresses and all that. Just get on with it. Like, don't be worried about it."
Tune in to Country Week on Dancing with the Stars this Sunday on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player at 6.30pm.
