Country Ireland Selected entrant Jedward | Selection date(s) 24 February 2012 Selected song "Waterline" | |
Selection process Eurosong 2012
50% Jury
50% Televoting Semi-final result Qualified (6th, 92 points) | ||
Ireland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku. Ireland chose their entry for the contest on 24 February 2012, through the national selection programme Eurosong 2012, organised by the national broadcaster RTÉ. Pop duo Jedward won the competition, with their song "Waterline", making them the first act ever to represent Ireland two years in a row. In the final, Ireland scored 46 points and ranked 19th.
Contents
Eurosong
In November 2011, RTÉ confirmed that Ireland's song and performer will again be chosen by the Eurosong mentor process, first used in 2011. RTÉ also announced the five mentors who would work with contestants in Eurosong 2012: agent and choreographer Julian Benson; music producer, songwriter and The Brilliant Things member Greg French; producer and former Popstars and You're a Star judge Bill Hughes; singer and songwriter Edele Lynch; and Eurovision winner Linda Martin.
The mentors were each tasked with selecting a song and an act to perform it, with the five entries announced by RTÉ on 8 February 2012. The five songs were debuted on the RTÉ Radio 1 programme Mooney on 9 February. The five songs were performed live on The Late Late Show Eurosong 2012 on 24 February, where "Waterline" was decided the winner by a combination of public vote and regional jury vote.
Participants
Both Jedward and Donna McCaul had previously represented Ireland at Eurovision. Jedward at Eurovision 2011 with the song "Lipstick" and Donna at Eurovision 2005 as part of pop duo Donna and Joe with the song "Love?"
At Eurovision
During the Semi-Final Allocation draw which was held on 25 January 2012, it was announced Ireland was scheduled to compete on the second half of the first semi-final on 22 May. On 20 March 2012 the Running Order draw was held, which determined the order of which the participants performed. Ireland performed 18th, the very last of the first semi-final, having been given the chance to choose their position after winning a wildcard in the draw. After performing at the first semi-final on 22 May, Jedward made it to the top ten and qualified for the final on Saturday 26 May; they performed in the 23rd position and won 46 points, giving them a rank of 19th in the competition.