TV and radio producer/director, Pat O’Mahony, could never be described as a Eurovision Song Contest fan. But late last year when it was announced that six of the biggest Irish names in Eurovision history would be touring Ireland together for the very first time, his curiosity was piqued.

In A Eurovision Affair Pat went behind-the-scenes of this unique travelling show, not only exploring up close and personal how it all came together over two weeks in October 2012, but also witnessing first hand the extraordinary affection that this pan-continental song competition inspires in the nation’s collective heart.

The “Best Of Eurovision: Ireland’s Winners” tour saw Johnny Logan, Dana, Linda Martin, Niamh Kavanagh, Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan perform a whole host of favourite Eurovision hits, bringing audiences around the country on a very exclusive trip down Eurovision memory lane.

Of course getting this extra-special six-pack performance on the road was far from plain sailing.

In A Eurovision Affair Pat captures both the plethora of last-minute rehearsal chaos that would have damned lesser productions and how, out on the road, things rarely go to plan.

But he also gets a unique insight into the various rarely-seen relationships between the six stars of the show as they spend time together on the road, aware that if egos are allowed run riot it could all end in tears.

The Eurovision holds a very special place in the lives of people all across Ireland and A Eurovision Affair gives more than a passing hint of what it is that for so many makes it so magical and memorable.

A Eurovision Affair airs on RTÉ Two, Monday 18 February 2013, at 9.30pm

As from here

RTÉ have announced who their Mentors for their 2013 Eurovision entry to Malmo are. It is an interesting line up and different to past line ups so we may see a few different type of acts at the National Final.

So who are they?

• Mairéad Farrell – Radio (Today FM) and television presenter.
• Shay Healy – Songwriter and performer, who composed What’s Another Year? the winning song for Ireland in the 1980 contest.
• Mark McCabe – Radio DJ and producer. (Remember Maniac 2000?)
• Niall Mooney – Songwriter who was part of the team behind the Irish entries in 2009 and 2010.
• Stuart O’Connor – Producer

The National Final will again take place in the new year on a Late Late Show Eurosong special and the winner will be decided by a combination of Public and Jury votes.

RTE have confirmed they are going to Malmo, let the rumours begin as to who will represent us now and how they will do it.

RTE have yet to announce the format for the selection process.

We are loving the Russian grannies they are like those little Russian dolls that pop out of each other

By far the favourite with the audience and public, plus with the added extra of this headline “Dima Bilan beaten by dancing grannies”

Buranovskie Babushki will sing the song Party for everybody in the first semifinal

You may know him from this song back in the late 60′s

According to the Telegraph Showbiz Editor “Can’t reveal until tonight. But if I tell you it’s a Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling artist… you still won’t guess it.” – Rick Astley anyone? Tom Jones, or some random down on their luck artist trying to make a comeback?

Jedward have been chosen to represent Ireland in Baku, after having secured first place at the Irish Eurosong Final.

Friday, February 24, 2012 – 07:35 AM

Jedward are pinning their hopes on the Irish vote tonight, as they sets their sights on a Eurovision entry.
The public will choose who to represent us at Eurovision, with the Dublin duo hoping to win a ticket to Azerbaijan.

The twins will perform fifth tonight on the Late Late Show and are favourites in the competition.

John and Edward are confident in the song and say “all the juries across Europe will vote for it”.

From the Irishexaminer.com

Eurosong is douze points for Late Late

VIEWERSHIP OF the Late Late Show tends to spike over the course of a programme whenever Irish guests get their Tubridy-time, meaning RTÉ will be all too happy to devote tomorrow’s show to that most Irish of traditions, Eurovision.

Excluding December’s record-breaking Toy Show audience, the most-watched edition of the Late Late last year was February 11th, when the Lipstick -singing Jedward were chosen as Ireland’s representatives – an average of 886,100 viewers tuned in to see this peroxide-tinged conclusion.

So what to expect of Eurosong 2012? With crushing inevitability, Jedward are back, this time with Waterline , described by music blog Popjustice as “a Backstreet [Boys] vs Busted banger of Eurovision-winning proportions”.

Oh dear. Deserving second-favourite, and reassuringly less likely to romp home in Azerbaijan, is Donna McCaul’s track Mercy – as fitting a Eurovision title as you can get. Alarmingly, both acts have called in the writing and/or production talents of pop’s peerless professionals: the Swedish.

From the IrishTImes.com

From Irishtimes.com

JENNIFER WHOLEY

JEDWARD ARE set to make a sparkly second grab for Ireland’s Eurovision spot on tonight’s Late Late Show Eurosong 2012 special.

Under the mentorship of Eurovision winner Linda Martin, Jedward will be performing a love song. With her experience, Martin hopes to be a calming influence on the pop duo and vault the fan favourites to the top of the list. “Waterline is a fantastic European pop song,” she said, describing the song as a metaphor for falling in love. “I loved it straight away and so did the boys.”

Speaking on Newstalk yesterday, Jedward said they are too busy to have girlfriends. Alluding to the break-up of the Beatles, the twins said: “It would break up Jedward. And that’s what happened to the Beatles with Yoko Ono and John Lennon.”

This year’s Eurosong winner will go on to the competition finals in Azerbaijan in May.