Ireland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 with the song "The Voice", written by Brendan Graham, and performed by Eimear Quinn. The Irish participating broadcaster, (RTÉ), selected its entry through a national final, which eventually won the contest.
Before Eurovision Eurosong '96 '96 was a radio song contest started in 1995 by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta exclusively for Irish songs. The first edition of the contest was not related to Eurosong, but from 1996 until 1999, the recent winner of would qualify to Eurosong. The 2nd edition of took place on 22 December 1995 and the results were decided by a panel of 3 judges. The running order and results of '96 are unknown.
+ '96 Artist Song Art Ó Dufaigh "Leathshúil ar do chroí" Cathal Ó Catháin "Camán, camán" Colm Mac Séalaigh "Cé h-é?" Damien Mac Gabhann "Róisín" Declan Masterson "Goirm í" Gearóid Ó Murchú "Siúlach scéalach" Helen Uí Dhunaird "Amárach" Mary Gallagher "Go fóill beag, slán" Seán Monaghan "An ronnach" Seosamh Ó Flatharta & Mómó Uí Churraoin "Lámh an bhádóra"
Final
RTÉ held Eurosong '96 on 3 March 1996 at the Point Theatre in Dublin, hosted by Pat Kenny. Eight entries competed in the final and the winner, "The Voice" performed by Eimear Quinn, was determined by the votes of ten regional juries.
+ Eurosong '96 – 3 March 1996 Artist Song Songwriter(s) Points Place 1 Rob Burke Band "Gotta Know Right Now" Rob Burke, Tony Burke 76 3 2 Dav McNamara "Missing You" Raymond Smyth 84 2 3 William Byrne and Lorraine Nolan "Once Again" Peter Becket 61 5 4 Eimear Quinn "The Voice" Brendan Graham 105 1 5 Marion Fossett "This Time" Marion Fossett 40 8 6 Yvonne Holmes "Find My Way" Richard Speedie 73 4 7 Seán Monaghan "Amhrán an ronnach" Seán Monaghan 61 5 8 Maura Donaghy "Worlds Apart" Stephen Nimmon 50 7 + Detailed Regional Jury Votes Song scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" scope="col" Total 1 "Gotta Know Right Now" 5 8 8 8 10 8 8 8 3 10 76 2 "Missing You" 10 12 12 7 5 3 12 5 12 6 84 3 "Once Again" 6 7 4 6 7 6 10 7 5 3 61 4 "The Voice" 12 10 10 12 8 12 7 12 10 12 105 5 "This Time" 3 4 3 4 3 4 5 6 4 4 40 6 "Find My Way" 7 5 6 10 12 10 6 4 8 5 73 7 "Amhrán an Ronnach" 4 6 7 5 4 7 4 10 6 8 61 8 "Worlds Apart" 8 3 5 3 6 5 3 3 7 7 50
At Eurovision As part of the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) scheme to limit the growing number of countries wishing to participate, audio recordings of the entries were sent to juries in each participating country some weeks before the contest. The juries listened to the songs, and awarded points to their ten favorites. Of the 29 countries wishing to participate (host country was exempt from the process), only the 22 highest-scorers were allowed to perform in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996. In this qualifying round, "The Voice" came in 2nd place with 187 points, and confirmed an Irish presence in Oslo that year.
Quinn performed 17th in the running order on the night of the contest. "The Voice" went on to win with 162 points, giving Ireland its seventh overall victory, and its fourth in five years.
Voting Qualifying round
+ Points awarded to Ireland (qualifying round) Score Country 12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
+ Points awarded by Ireland (qualifying round) Score Country 12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
Final
+ Points awarded to Ireland (final) Score Country 12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
+ Points awarded by Ireland (final) Score Country 12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
References