Galway has a one in three chance of having a singer represent Ireland in this summer’s Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool in May.
The event is being held in the UK because the 2022 winners Ukraine are unable to host the event due to the ongoing invasion. The six acts who will battle it out to represent Ireland in Liverpool this May at the 67th Eurovision Song Contest have been revealed, having been selected from hundreds of entries received by RTÉ following a callout for submissions last year. All acts will compete on The Late Late Eurosong 2023 Special in February.
Song 2 will be sung by Leitir Meailláin’s Jennifer Connolly — Midnight Summer Night was written one night during the pandemic when Leitir Meailláin’s Jennifer Connolly was just 17 years old.
Currently, in her first year of Creative Music Production at IADT / Sound Training College in Dublin, Jennifer says she has had a passion for music since she was a young child, and that this song plays with themes of nostalgia and the passing of time through her vocals.
“The song conveys confusion and overwhelming detachment, but overall the song implies that nothing bad lasts forever, delivering a sense of hope. To be in with a chance to share my song on such a legendary platform as Eurovision is amazing. It would be nothing less than a dream come true to bring Eurovision back home for Ireland once again.”
The second Galway-connected artist is former Sex Pistol Johnny Lydon also known as Johnny Rotten, whop sings with Public Image Limited. Their song Hawaii is a love letter to John Lydon’s wife of nearly five decades, Nora, who is living with Alzheimer’s.
Described as “a pensive, personal yet universal love song that will resonate with many”, the song sees John reflecting on one of their happiest moments together in Hawaii.
According to the band, the emotional ballad is as close as John - whose father came from Tuam - will ever come to baring his soul.
“It is dedicated to everyone going through tough times on the journey of life, with the person they care for the most,” John says. “It’s also a message of hope that ultimately love conquers all.”
The Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will take place in the Liverpool Arena next to the River Mersey, on behalf of Ukraine, on Saturday, 13 May.
