Ireland – Eurosong Finalists Announced for Eurovision 2014. Photo : DR/EBU
IRELAND – RTE (Irish National Broadcaster) has officially released the names of the 5 artists that will be taking in the Irish National Final – Eurosong – as the country selects their song for Eurovision 2014. The 5 mentors have completed their search for both artist and songs in the hope of bringing Ireland another victory at Eurovision since our last in 1996
Irish Eurosong Finalists 2014
- Kasey Leeann Smith (Mentor Hazel Kaneswaran)
- Patricia Roe (Mentor Valerie Roe)
- Andrew Mann (Mentor Cormac Battle)
- Laura O’Neill (Mentor Billy McGuinness)
- Eoghan Quigg (Mentor Mark Murphy)
IRELAND : Eurosong Finalists 2014.
Can-Linn featuring Kasey Leeann Smith
Many people will remember Kasey from the Eurosong final last year when she performed the song “Kiss Me” and finished 3rd in the contest. Kasey returns this year with Hazel Kaneswaran as her mentor. However Kasey will be performing with the Can-Linn that are a collaborative music act featuring Irish Music instruments/sounds. We met up with Kasey and Hazel for a video interview that you will be able to see over the coming days where we spoke about her experience last year at Eurosong, her “fusion” song for this year and plans for the Irish Final. Can-Linn and Kasey will perform the song “Heartbeat” composed by Hazel Kaneswaran,Jonas Gladnikoff, Rasmus Palmgren and Patrizia Helander. Here is Kasey from last year.
Patricia Roe
Patricia Roe makes a welcomed return to the Eurosong Finals. Many people will remember Patricia from Eurosong 1992 and 1993 when she narrowly missed out on representing Ireland at Eurovision in both years. Patricia returns in 2014 with a self composed song “Don’t Hold On” for this year’s Eurosong Final. We recorded an interview with Patricia and her mentor Valerie Roe and spoke of her career, her involvement with Irish band Out of the Blue, a horse riding accident while making her Eurosong video, Malta and plans for her performance on the Late Late Show. Her is Patricia performing her song “If You Changed Your Mind” that she wrote and performed in the 1993 Eurosong Final.
Andrew Mann
Andrew Mann is another returning Eurosong finalist and will be mentored by Cormac Battle. You will remember Andrew from 2012 when he was runner-up to Jedward with his song “Here I am”. Andrew since then has gone on to take part in The Voice Of Ireland last year where he competed in the live shows and has gone on to have a Top 10 EP in the Irish download charts with “Middle of the Dancefloor“. We caught up Andrew and talked about his constant gigging around Ireland, his song for the Eurosong final this year and we make plans for a night out on the town! Andrew will perform the song “Be Mine” that was written by Cormac Battle. Here is Andrew’s most recent song “Middle of the Dancefloor”
http://youtu.be/D92F-VRq7a4
Laura O’Neill
Laura O’Neill makes her debut in the Irish National Final. She is being mentored by Aslan band member Billy McGuinness. Laura came to the attention of Billy when he heard her sing with her Wedding Ban – The Firm. From then on Billy knew that she was the singer for him. Laura talked to us about her song and the performance on the night of the Eurosong final. Finally she made a promise to us about a “Zip Line on the stage” if she makes it to Copenhagen! Laura will perform the song “You Don’t Remember Me” composed by Don Mescall and Lucie Silvas. Here is a video of one of Laura’s performances “Heaven” – the Bryan Adams classic
Eoghan Quigg
Eoghan Quigg also makes his debut at the Eurosong National Final. He will be no stranger to many people following his participation on the X-Factor in the UK back in 2008 where he came third. Eoghan will be mentored by Mark Murphy. Eoghan released his self titled album back in 2009 where it reached #1 in Ireland and #14 in the UK. Since then he has been singing and writing material. You will certainly see how he has matured into a man since his time on the X-Factor.Eoghan will perform the song “The Movie Song” composed by Karl Broderick. Here is Eoghan performing with Boyzone back in 2008.
Where to Listen to the Songs
The songs will be aired on 2fm tomorrow Thursday February 6th on the Rick O’Shea show at 2pm. They will then be again on the RTE 1 Radio show Mooney at 3pm
We will post the links for you to listen into tomorrow on-line
The singers and songs are varied this year which reflects the different mentors that RTE have selected.
What are your initial thoughts on the singers selected?
Author/Website co-founder and Editor in Chief Garrett Mulhall
Source : Eurovision Ireland and RTE
Categories: Eurosong, Eurovision 2014, Eurovision Events Ireland, Eurovision Interviews, Ireland
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Eurovision Ireland 
It will be a battle between laura o neil and can lin..the others are complete rubbish. .and has beens my favourite is laura she has the best song lyrics.and would do well laura..to win only just…
wow laura o´nell´s song is amazing. like a lot! deserves to go to Copenhagen
It is gonna be a close run race Nicolas
Really looking forward to hearing the songs. :) Laura O’Neill has such a pretty voice. Looking forward to your interviews too! Hope Can-Linn & Kasey’s is good too. Would be nice to hear some traditional Irish stuff!
So what is the verdict Ariana?
Laura or Can-Linn, one of em!
I am very disappointed. Most of these folk both singers and songwriters have tried and failed before. Another failed year for poor old Ireland….thanks RTE!
Were there no songs that you liked Jimmy?
Hi Eurovision Ireland. On reflection, I may have been unduly harsh with my earlier comment. I am just cross with RTE for trying the same tired old format and using a closed club of writers and performers year after year and expecting a different result. Ireland has such musical talent but if you’re not in the small RTE clique, you can forget it. I actually like Can linn but I worry that it does resemble Teardrop from last year. The juries are never kind to songs that sound similar to the previous year’s winner. Eoghan Quiggs song is pleasant but is it too gentle and likely to get lost in the usual uptempo numbers with dancers and fireworks? It’s really hard to decide. I just hope that the a Irish public make a good choice. Whichever song is chosen, I know I will be shouting at the injustice of the voting results on the night. Finally, your site is excellent by the way. Regards. Jimmy
I think that if we send the song Heartbeat we have a great chance of doing well in this years Eurovision because:
It is traditional Irish music with a singer who has an urban tone to her voice. It is like mixing The Corrs and Rihanna. That will definitely, in my opinion, grab the attention of both the juries and the televoters. Plus Ireland is well known around the world for traditional native music.
If we send Eoghan Quigg with The Movie Song, as much as I like movies, I do not think it will go down well because the title is very gimmicky and will seriously struggle to make it to the final.
Honestly, to those of you voting on the 28/2/14, if I were you, I would vote for either Can-Linn and Kasey or Andrew Mann.
It seems to be a very open race Deven. Public opinion is split between a lot of the acts
Interesting mix so the songs should be at least varied. (Bit disappointed Valarie Roe didn’t stray far from home)
I shall reserve my final judgement until I hear the songs but am not overwhelmed. Am already nervous when Rick O’Shea comes out with the comment that this year is a bumper crop! Makes me think, here we go again.Same old, same old. My view on the names put forward: Valerie Roe selecting her sister is lazy and reeks of nepotism. Am not impressed by that at all. We’ll see. Kasey if I remember from last year was over-styled and didn’t really perform her song that well on the night so I don’t expect much and I am always wary when ‘fusion’ is bandied about. Eoghan could be interesting now that he’s had a number of years to mature. I liked Andrew Mann before so I am interested in what he has to offer this time and have no idea on who Laura O’Neill is so will rely on Billy McGuinness’s expertise. I am looking forward to hearing the songs but doubt very much there will be anything there to make me sit up and go wow! However I still am excited, though as I said before it is tinged with nerves. Good luck to all mentors and performers. I’m sure whoever gets selected, I shall support come May.
Sigh. I had the lowest of expectations and I’m STILL disappointed by this line up. Reality show rejects aside, why is Karl Broderick allowed within a hundred miles of the national final? I thought surely there would have been a zone of restriction set up around Eurosong and all its territorial outposts in the wake of the “Love?” atrocity of 2005. That’s one crime against humanity that should never be forgotten. Or forgiven for that matter. But sterling work, RTE, once again displaying your trademark reluctance to try anything new or even remotely effective. /rant. :(
One mentor, Mark Murphy, who is linked with X-Factor in the last few years as tour manager for Olly Murs and other X-Factor participants chooses …… an X-factor contestant!! Another mentor, Valerie Roe, keeps it in the family and chooses her sister …. great PR stunt …. not!! Another mentor, Cormac Battle chooses a previous Eurosong finalist to perform a song written by …. Cormac Battle. Hmmmm …. not exactly inspiring thus far :/ At least mentors Hazel and Billy appear to have put some effort into sourcing potentially interesting acts and songwriters. But good luck to all anyway.