seven wins!
Ireland at Eurovision
Ireland first sang at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965 and has entered 58 contests, the last of them in 2025. It has won seven times: in 1970, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996. The contest has been held there seven times, most recently in Dublin in 1997.
- 58
- contests
- 7
- wins
- 7
- hosted
- first song
- 1965
- last song
- 2025
- contests
- 58
- wins
- 7 — 1970, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996
- second place
- 4 — 1967, 1984, 1990, 1997
- last place
- 2 — 2007, 2013
- in the final
- 9 of 21 tries since semi-finals began in 2004
- sung in
- English (57), Irish (1)
- hosted
- Dublin 1971, Dublin 1981, Dublin 1988, Millstreet 1993, Dublin 1994, Dublin 1995, Dublin 1997
- not in the line-up
- 1983, 2002
The seven wins
-
1970, Amsterdam “All Kinds of Everything”
Dana · 32 points
-
1980, The Hague “What's Another Year”
Johnny Logan · 143 points
-
1987, Brussels “Hold Me Now”
Johnny Logan · 172 points
-
1992, Malmö “Why Me”
Linda Martin · 155 points
-
1993, Millstreet “In Your Eyes”
Niamh Kavanagh · 187 points
-
1994, Dublin “Rock 'n' Roll Kids”
Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan · 226 points
-
1996, Oslo “The Voice”
Eimear Quinn · 162 points
Photos are stills from the contest’s own videos on YouTube. Each one opens that year’s story.
Every song
All 59 entries, newest first. The year opens the story of that contest; the name opens the artist.
| Year | Artist | Song | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Basel | Emmy | “Laika Party” English | Out in semi-final 2 (13th of 16) | 28 |
| 2024 Malmö | Bambie Thug | “Doomsday Blue” English | 6th of 26 | 278 |
| 2023 Liverpool | Wild Youth | “We Are One” English | Out in semi-final 1 (12th of 15) | 10 |
| 2022 Turin | Brooke | “That's Rich” English | Out in semi-final 2 (15th of 18) | 47 |
| 2021 Rotterdam | Lesley Roy | “Maps” English | Out in semi-final 1 (16th of 16) | 20 |
| 2020 Rotterdam | Lesley Roy | “Story of My Life” English | Contest cancelled | — |
| 2019 Tel Aviv | Sarah McTernan | “22” English | Out in semi-final 2 (18th of 18) | 16 |
| 2018 Lisbon | Ryan O'Shaughnessy | “Together” English | 16th of 26 | 136 |
| 2017 Kyiv | Brendan Murray | “Dying to Try” English | Out in semi-final 2 (13th of 18) | 86 |
| 2016 Stockholm | Nicky Byrne | “Sunlight” English | Out in semi-final 2 (15th of 18) | 46 |
| 2015 Vienna | Molly Sterling | “Playing with Numbers” English | Out in semi-final 2 (12th of 17) | 35 |
| 2014 Copenhagen | Can-linn feat. Kasey Smith | “Heartbeat” English | Out in semi-final 2 (12th of 15) | 35 |
| 2013 Malmö | Ryan Dolan | “Only Love Survives” English | 26th of 26 | 5 |
| 2012 Baku | Jedward | “Waterline” English | 19th of 26 | 46 |
| 2011 Düsseldorf | Jedward | “Lipstick” English | 8th of 25 | 119 |
| 2010 Oslo | Niamh Kavanagh | “It's for You” English | 23rd of 25 | 25 |
| 2009 Moscow | Sinéad Mulvey and Black Daisy | “Et Cetera” English | Out in semi-final 2 (11th of 19) | 52 |
| 2008 Belgrade | Dustin the Turkey | “Irelande Douze Pointe” English | Out in semi-final 1 (15th of 19) | 22 |
| 2007 Helsinki | Dervish | “They Can't Stop the Spring” English | 24th of 24 | 5 |
| 2006 Athens | Brian Kennedy | “Every Song Is a Cry for Love” English | 10th of 24 | 93 |
| 2005 Kyiv | Donna and Joe | “Love?” English | Out in the semi-final (14th of 25) | 53 |
| 2004 Istanbul | Chris Doran | “If My World Stopped Turning” English | 22nd of 24 | 7 |
| 2003 Riga | Mickey Harte | “We've Got the World” English | 11th of 26 | 53 |
| 2001 Copenhagen | Gary O'Shaughnessy | “Without Your Love” English | 21st of 23 | 6 |
| 2000 Stockholm | Eamonn Toal | “Millennium of Love” English | 6th of 24 | 92 |
| 1999 Jerusalem | The Mullans | “When You Need Me” English | 17th of 23 | 18 |
| 1998 Birmingham | Dawn Martin | “Is Always Over Now” English | 9th of 25 | 64 |
| 1997 Dublin | Marc Roberts | “Mysterious Woman” English | 2nd of 25 | 157 |
| 1996 Oslo | Eimear Quinn | “The Voice” English | winner! | 162 |
| 1995 Dublin | Eddie Friel | “Dreamin'” English | 14th of 23 | 44 |
| 1994 Dublin | Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan | “Rock 'n' Roll Kids” English | winner! | 226 |
| 1993 Millstreet | Niamh Kavanagh | “In Your Eyes” English | winner! | 187 |
| 1992 Malmö | Linda Martin | “Why Me” English | winner! | 155 |
| 1991 Rome | Kim Jackson | “Could It Be That I'm in Love” English | 10th of 22 | 47 |
| 1990 Zagreb | Liam Reilly | “Somewhere in Europe” English | 2nd of 22 | 132 |
| 1989 Lausanne | Kiev Connolly and the Missing Passengers | “The Real Me” English | 18th of 22 | 21 |
| 1988 Dublin | Jump the Gun | “Take Him Home” English | 8th of 21 | 79 |
| 1987 Brussels | Johnny Logan | “Hold Me Now” English | winner! | 172 |
| 1986 Bergen | Luv Bug | “You Can Count On Me” English | 4th of 20 | 96 |
| 1985 Gothenburg | Maria Christian | “Wait Until the Weekend Comes” English | 6th of 19 | 91 |
| 1984 Luxembourg City | Linda Martin | “Terminal 3” English | 2nd of 19 | 137 |
| 1982 Harrogate | The Duskeys | “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” English | 11th of 18 | 49 |
| 1981 Dublin | Sheeba | “Horoscopes” English | 5th of 20 | 105 |
| 1980 The Hague | Johnny Logan | “What's Another Year” English | winner! | 143 |
| 1979 Jerusalem | Cathal Dunne | “Happy Man” English | 5th of 19 | 80 |
| 1978 Paris | Colm C. T. Wilkinson | “Born to Sing” English | 5th of 20 | 86 |
| 1977 London | The Swarbriggs Plus Two | “It's Nice to Be in Love Again” English | 3rd of 18 | 119 |
| 1976 The Hague | Red Hurley | “When” English | 10th of 18 | 54 |
| 1975 Stockholm | The Swarbriggs | “That's What Friends Are For” English | 9th of 19 | 68 |
| 1974 Brighton | Tina Reynolds | “Cross Your Heart” English | 7th of 17 | 11 |
| 1973 Luxembourg City | Maxi | “Do I Dream” English | 10th of 17 | 80 |
| 1972 Edinburgh | Sandie Jones | “Ceol an Ghrá” Irish | 15th of 18 | 72 |
| 1971 Dublin | Angela Farrell | “One Day Love” English | 11th of 18 | 79 |
| 1970 Amsterdam | Dana | “All Kinds of Everything” English | winner! | 32 |
| 1969 Madrid | Muriel Day | “The Wages of Love” English | 7th of 16 | 10 |
| 1968 London | Pat McGeegan | “Chance of a Lifetime” English | 4th of 17 | 18 |
| 1967 Vienna | Sean Dunphy | “If I Could Choose” English | 2nd of 17 | 22 |
| 1966 Luxembourg City | Dickie Rock | “Come Back to Stay” English | 4th of 18 | 14 |
| 1965 Naples | Butch Moore | “I'm Walking the Streets in the Rain” English | 6th of 18 | 11 |
Points for a song that went out in a semi-final are its semi-final points. Before 2004 there were no semi-finals: every song sang on the one night.
Sent more than once
The six acts Ireland has sent to more than one contest.
- The Swarbriggs 1975, 1977
- Johnny Logan 1980, 1987
- Linda Martin 1984, 1992
- Niamh Kavanagh 1993, 2010
- Jedward 2011, 2012
- Lesley Roy 2020 (cancelled), 2021
Hosting
The seven contests held in Ireland.
- 1971 Dublin Gaiety Theatre won by Monaco
- 1981 Dublin RDS Simmonscourt won by United Kingdom
- 1988 Dublin RDS Simmonscourt Pavilion won by Switzerland
- 1993 Millstreet Green Glens Arena won by Ireland
- 1994 Dublin Point Theatre won by Ireland
- 1995 Dublin Point Theatre won by Norway
- 1997 Dublin Point Theatre won by United Kingdom
On air at home
The channels that carried the contest in Ireland, year by year, and who commentated where our source names them. Newest first.
- 2025
- RTÉ2 (semi-finals) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- 2024
- RTÉ One (semi-final 1, final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ2 (semi-final 2) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ 2fm (semi-final 1, final) Zbyszek Zalinski and Neil Doherty
- 2023
- RTÉ One (semi-final 1 and final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ2 (semi-final 2) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ 2fm (semi-final 1 and final) Neil Doherty and Zbyszek Zalinski
- 2022
- RTÉ2 (semi-finals) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ Radio 1 (semi-final 2 and final) Neil Doherty and Zbyszek Zalinski
- 2021
- RTÉ2 (semi-finals) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ Radio 1 (semi-final 1) Neil Doherty and Zbyszek Zalinski
- RTÉ 2fm (final) Neil Doherty and Zbyszek Zalinski
- 2019
- RTÉ2 (semi-finals) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ Radio 1 (semi-final 2) Neil Doherty and Zbyszek Zalinski
- RTÉ 2fm (final) Neil Doherty and Zbyszek Zalinski
- 2018
- RTÉ2 (semi-finals) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ Radio 1 (semi-final 1) Neil Doherty and Zbyszek Zalinski
- RTÉ 2fm (final) Neil Doherty and Zbyszek Zalinski
- 2017
- RTÉ2 (semi-finals) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ Radio 1 (semi-final 2 and final) Neil Doherty and Zbyszek Zalinski
- 2016
- RTÉ2 (semi-finals) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ Radio 1 (semi-final 2 and final) Neil Doherty and Zbyszek Zalinski
- 2014
- RTÉ Two (semi-finals) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ Radio 1 (semi-final 2 and final) Shay Byrne and Zbyszek Zalinski
- 2013
- RTÉ Two (semi-finals) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ Radio 1 (semi-final 1 and final) Shay Byrne and Zbyszek Zalinski
- 2012
- RTÉ Two (semi-finals) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ Radio 1 (final) Shay Byrne and Zbyszek Zalinski
- 2011
- RTÉ Two (semi-finals) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ Radio 1 (semi-final 2 and final) Shay Byrne and Zbyszek Zalinski
- 2010
- RTÉ Two (semi-finals) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- 2009
- RTÉ Two (semi-finals) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ Radio 1 (semi-final 2 and final) Maxi
- 2008
- RTÉ Two (semi-finals) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ Radio 1 (semi-final 1 and final) Larry Gogan
- 2007
- RTÉ Two (semi-final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ Radio 1 (final) Larry Gogan
- 2006
- RTÉ Two (semi-final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- 2005
- RTÉ Two (semi-final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- 2004
- N2 (semi-final) Marty Whelan
- RTÉ One (final) Marty Whelan
- 2003
- RTÉ One Marty Whelan and Phil Coulter
- 2002
- RTÉ One Marty Whelan
- 2001
- RTÉ One Marty Whelan
- RTÉ Radio 1 Larry Gogan
- 2000
- RTÉ One Marty Whelan
- RTÉ Radio 1 Larry Gogan
- 1999
- RTÉ One Pat Kenny
- RTÉ Radio 1 Larry Gogan
- 1998
- RTÉ One Pat Kenny
- RTÉ Radio 1 Larry Gogan
- 1997
- RTÉ One Pat Kenny
- RTÉ Radio 1 Larry Gogan
- 1996
- RTÉ One Pat Kenny
- RTÉ Radio 1 Larry Gogan
- 1995
- RTÉ 1 Pat Kenny
- RTÉ Radio 1 Larry Gogan
- 1994
- RTÉ 1 Pat Kenny
- RTÉ Radio 1 Larry Gogan
- 1993
- RTÉ 1 Pat Kenny
- RTÉ Radio 1 Larry Gogan
- 1992
- RTÉ 1 Pat Kenny
- 2FM Larry Gogan
- 1991
- RTÉ 1 Pat Kenny
- RTÉ Radio 1 Larry Gogan
- 1990
- RTÉ 1 Jimmy Greeley and Clíona Ní Bhuachalla
- RTÉ Radio 1 Larry Gogan
- 1989
- RTÉ 1 Ronan Collins and Michelle Rocca
- RTÉ Radio 1 Larry Gogan
- 1988
- RTÉ 1 Mike Murphy
- RTÉ FM3 Larry Gogan
- 1987
- RTÉ 1 Marty Whelan
- RTÉ FM3 Larry Gogan
- 1986
- RTÉ 1 Brendan Balfe
- RTÉ Radio 1 Larry Gogan
- 1985
- RTÉ 1 Linda Martin
- RTÉ Radio 1 Larry Gogan
- 1984
- RTÉ 1 Gay Byrne
- RTÉ Radio 1 Larry Gogan
- 1983
- RTÉ 1 Terry Wogan
- RTÉ Radio 1 Brendan Balfe
- 1982
- RTÉ 1 Larry Gogan
- RTÉ Radio 1 Pat Kenny
- 1981
- RTÉ 1 Larry Gogan
- RTÉ Radio 1 Pat Kenny
- 1980
- RTÉ 1 Larry Gogan
- RTÉ Radio 1 Pat Kenny
- 1979
- RTÉ 1 Mike Murphy
- RTÉ Radio Liam Devally
- 1978
- RTÉ Larry Gogan
- RTÉ Radio Liam Devally
- 1977
- RTÉ Mike Murphy
- RTÉ Radio Liam Devally
- 1976
- RTÉ Mike Murphy
- RTÉ Radio
- 1975
- RTÉ Mike Murphy
- RTÉ Radio Liam Devally
- 1974
- RTÉ Mike Murphy
- RTÉ Radio
- 1973
- RTÉ Mike Murphy
- RTÉ Radio Liam Devally
- 1972
- RTÉ Mike Murphy
- RTÉ Radio Liam Devally and Kevin Roche
- 1971
- RTÉ Noel Andrews
- RTÉ Radio Kevin Roche
- 1970
- RTÉ Valerie McGovern
- RTÉ Radio Kevin Roche
- 1969
- RTÉ Gay Byrne
- RTÉ Radio Kevin Roche
- 1968
- RTÉ Brendan O'Reilly
- RTÉ Radio Kevin Roche
- 1967
- RTÉ Brendan O'Reilly
- RTÉ Radio Kevin Roche
- 1966
- Telefís Éireann Brendan O'Reilly
- Radió Éireann Kevin Roche
- 1965
- Telefís Éireann Bunny Carr
- Radió Éireann Kevin Roche
- 1964
- Telefís Éireann
- 1963
- Telefís Éireann
In our contest stories
Lines about Ireland from our story of each contest. Follow a link for the rest of that night.
- 1965 Eighteen
Sweden returned after its strike-enforced year off, and Ireland entered for the first time.
- 1970 Dana
She won with 32 votes. It was Ireland's first victory.
- 1971
Ireland's first contest was held in a theatre celebrating its hundredth birthday.
- 1971 The protest at the door
Official Sinn Féin picketed in opposition to Ireland joining the European Economic Community.
- 1980 A show made from leftovers
Ireland's was the exception: an English-language song, introduced in Irish.
- 1980 Johnny Logan
Ireland won with "What's Another Year", written by Shay Healy and sung by Johnny Logan — born in Australia, and singing for his parents' country.
- 1987 The result
Johnny Logan had won for Ireland in 1980.
- 1992 The result
Ireland won for the fourth time.
- 1993 The result
It was Ireland's fifth victory, level with France and Luxembourg at the top of the list, and its second in a row.
- 1993 The result
The interval belonged to the pair who had brought the contest to Ireland: Linda Martin, who sang her winning song again, and Johnny Logan, its writer, who performed with choirs that included local children.
- 1994
Ireland hosted for the second year running, something no country had done before, and brought the contest back to Dublin: to the Point Theatre, an old railway depot in the docklands, with about 3,200 seats.
- 1994 Riverdance
The music was released as a single and went straight to number one in Ireland, where it stayed for eighteen weeks.
- 1995
No country has hosted three contests in a row except Ireland, and by the third, Irish television was looking for a way out.
- 1995
But it did ask the EBU for one thing: a change to the rules, so that if Ireland won a fourth time running, it would not have to host again.
- 1997
Ireland's seventh contest is also, so far, its last.
- 1997 The result
Katrina and the Waves sang "Love Shine a Light" second from last and finished on 227 points, 70 ahead of Ireland.
Results as published by the European Broadcasting Union. “Not in the line-up” means no song from Ireland was in that year’s contest, whatever the reason. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we’ll fix it.