Ireland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1976 with the song "When", written by Brendan Graham, and performed by Red Hurley. The Irish participating broadcaster, (RTÉ), selected its entry through a national final.
Before Eurovision
National Song Contest (RTÉ) held the twelfth National Song Contest on Sunday 8 February 1976 at its studios in Dublin, hosted by Mike Murphy. Eight songs took part, with the winner chosen by voting from eight regional juries.
Other participants included past and future Irish representatives The Swarbriggs ( and ), Cathal Dunne () and Linda Martin () who performed as a member of the group Chips.
+ Final – 8 February 1976 Artist Song Points Place 1 MacWilliams "Old-Fashioned Song" 4 6 2 Cahir O'Doherty "If I Had Your Love" 0 7 3 Mary Clifford "Cá bhfuil Grá?" 12 3 4 The Swarbriggs "The Way of Love" 6 5 5 Chips "We Can Fly" 16 2 6 Red Hurley "When" 32 1 7 Trinity "Cé'n fáth atáim i nGrá?" 0 7 8 Cathal Dunne "Danny" 10 4 + Detailed Regional Jury Votes Song Total1"Old-Fashioned Song"11 2 42"If I Had Your Love" 03"Cá bhfuil Grá?"1412 13 124"The Way of Love"3 2165"We Can Fly"22721 2 166"When"33161918327"Cé'n fáth atáim i nGrá?" 08"Danny" 1 6 2110
At Eurovision On the evening of the final Hurley performed 7th in the running order, following and preceding the . At the close of voting, "When" had picked up 54 points, placing Ireland 10th of the 18 entries. Ireland received one maximum 12 from , which the Irish jury reciprocated by awarding their 12 to the Italian song.
Voting
+ Points awarded to Ireland 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 Score Country 12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
References