Dana International caused a massive stir when winning the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest in Birmingham so do not expect her Eurovision 2011 entry to be any less shocking.

The Israeli, who was born into a Yemenite Jewish family, became one of the most famous transsexuals in the world following her success and she will return to Eurovision 13 years later with new self-written track ‘Ding Dong’.

Dana International was chosen by the Israeli public and jury to represent the country once again and fashion designer Jean Paul Gautier is so impressed with her, that he has offered her his brand new collection to wear during the Contest. She will have the opportunity to wear any one of eight of his creations, which will be decided by her fans.

Back in 1998, the decision to allow her to perform for Israel attracted criticism from conservatives in her homeland. However, she took Europe by storm, beating the United Kingdom into second place by six points. Her single ‘Diva’ was incredibly successful, shifting over 400,000 copies worldwide. It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 11 whilst she also enjoyed a top ten hit in Sweden, Belgium, Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands. For this reason alone, the Eurovision betting suggests she could go down well again.

Before this, Israel had also tasted success in the Eurovision Song Contest on two previous occasions. Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta won the competition in 1978 with ‘A-Ba-Ni-Bi’ whilst the following year, Gali Atari and Milk and Honey gave the country further success with ‘Hallelujah’.

Dana International, therefore, will be hoping to make it her second and Israel’s fourth success at the Eurovision Song Contest come May 14.

According to Irish DJ Ian Dempsey it looks like Lipstick will be used by a car ad in Asia staring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Edit: This has now been confirmed as a Hyundai car for April 1st!

The Twins are moving to Asia folks, just one more step in their quest for world domination

From now on we will be adding playlists to the Featured Videos, we have updated there to include all of Ireland’s Eurovision songs, in 2 parts, and then the UK until 1983.

You can always view them on the following page in the tab function at the top of the website:

http://www.escireland.com/featured-videos/

We will of course be adding more as the days go along, if you want to see any in particular then please let us know.

Ireland in the Eurovision 1965 – 1989

Ireland in the Eurovision 1990 – 2011

The United Kingdom in the Eurovision 1957 – 1983

We are very happy to announce that the Queens of Irish Eurovision are gracing the next Funk N Something in Cork with their presence.

Sheila Fitzpatrick and Madonna Lucia are on the way! Along with Fabula as our hostess. The first time these three legends have worked together playing all your favorite hits both classic and recent. Come join us one and all, a great night is to be had

FRIDAY 15TH APRIL
DOORS 9.00
€5 AND FREE ENTRY TO RUBYS NIGHTCLUB

Map to the location

At least on Facebook and/or Twitter

There is a handy little Application out there call Twibbon, I’m sure that you have seen it on occasions.

Twibbon is the easiest and most powerful way to promote awareness of your cause on Twitter and Facebook, engaging with users and increasing your Twitter followers and your Facebook likes.

Twibbon overlays a small icon or “Twibbon” on supporters’ profile images which is then automatically shared with their friends creating a unique viral loop that spreads awareness amongst millions of Facebook and Twitter users and drives up your followers and likes.

Some ingenious little internet elf is coming up with Twibbons for each country (© Ben Morris) as well as profile pictures.

We are loving some of the profile pictures, including the particularly mannish looking Estonia:

You can find them all here on Facebook, as well as links how to Twibbon your profile picture. Have a look at Duncan James Twibbon on Twitter:

At the time of press of this article you can get Twibbons of Sweden, Ireland, Hungary, Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, The UK, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany and Finland with more being added soon. There are icon pics for all countries up as well.

They even made a wallpaper as seen below:

All the way from Mother Russia Alexey Vorobyov or Aleexey Sparrow as he is sometimes known as as, is indeed a worthy entry into the Eye Candy hall of fame, plus his song isn’t half bad either

Give it about a minute before it gets going, it’s by the same beauties who were in the Spanish final last year.

Jusdge for yourself, they were on Top of the Pops Italia thing.

These are the latest betting odds from Paddypower.ie

Estonia 5/1
France 6/1
United Kingdom 7/1
Norway 8/1
Germany 8/1
Sweden 8/1
Russia 12/1
Bosnia & Herzogovina 12/1
Ireland 12/1
Azerbaijan 14/1
Hungary 14/1
Denmark 16/1
Poland 33/1
Turkey 33/1
Israel 33/1
Finland 33/1
Austria 40/1
Greece 40/1
Armenia 40/1
Slovenia 40/1
Ukraine 40/1
Georgia 50/1
Switzerland 50/1
Romania 50/1
Moldova 66/1
Serbia 66/1
Slovakia 80/1
Netherlands 80/1
Croatia 80/1
Italy 100/1
Latvia 100/1
Belarus 100/1
Iceland 100/1
Spain 100/1
Albania 100/1
San Marino 100/1
Bulgaria 100/1
Portugal 125/1
Malta 125/1
Lithuania 150/1
Cyprus 150/1
Belgium 150/1
Macedonia 150/1

This is doing the rounds at the moment, it is a flashmob from Sydney in the Central station and they do it to Riverdance no less, for those of ye that do not know it was the national Irish day yesterday (so to speak), St Patrick’s day and it is celebrated the world over. Brings a tear to my eye

You’ll need to wait 2 minutes to get to the Riverdance bit.