[Semi-Final 1] The Qualifiers!

Source: Elke Roels, Thomas Hanses (EBU) First Semi-Final Winners Press Conference

Tonight saw the first Semi-Final of the 57th Eurovision Song Contest take place in Baku. In what was an agonising wait for Ireland fans we clinched the “Golden Ticket” and the last spot in the final. The other qualifiers were Romania, Moldova, Iceland, Hungary, Denmark, Albania, Cyprus, Greece and Russia.

They join Azerbaijan, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom in Saturday’s final. On Thursday a further 18 countries compete for another ten places in the final.

The final line-up looks like this following the draw after the show and press conference

01. United Kingdom

02. Hungary

03. Albania

06. Russia

07. Iceland

08. Cyprus

09. France

13. Azerbaijan

14. Romania

15. Denmark

16. Greece

19. Spain

20. Germany

23. Ireland

26. Moldova

This is a great draw for Ireland, but could be difficult for Hungary (2nd) as no country has won the Eurovision Final from that position. Russia who drew 6th could find it hard also as no country has won from that position since the Netherlands in 1957. It will be interested who gets drawn around us on Thursday during the Press Conference after the second Semi-Final.

ESC Ireland voters managed to predict 8 countries correctly. Switzerland and Finland were the let downs as Hungary and Moldova got through instead. Stay tuned for another poll on the Second Semi-Final!