Two acts have qualified from the second Junior Eurovision Éire heat in Ireland.
This year, the format for the selection changed. The competitors are now required to sing Irish covers of well known English language songs, rather than original songs. Each participant was scored out of 30, and the highest scoring participant advanced through to the next round. The next two highest point scorers then faced one another in a sing-off, with the jury selecting their favourite to continue to the next stage.
The jury consists of Gráinne Bleasdale, who returns for the second year as well as Chris Greene and a guest juror each week. This week’s guest juror was Paul Harrington, who represented Ireland and won Eurovision in 1994 alongside Charlie McGettigan.
Here is the full list of participants:
- Caoimhe McBride – September – 23 points
- Alison McGrath – Ghost – 28 points
- Sophie Whelan – Speeding Cars – 22 points
- Katie Healy – Feel It Again – 25 points
- Nikki Little – Illuminate – 19 points
- Rachel Kennedy – Shape of You – 20 points
- Cairde Ceolmhaire – Catch and Release – 19 points
Alison McGrath qualified directly to the semi-final, while Caoimhe McBride and Katie Healy performed again in the sing-off. Paul voted for Katie, while the other two judges voted for Caoimhe meaning that she will continue to the semi-final.
Alison and Caoimhe will join last week’s qualifiers Anna Kearney and Aoife McNelis in the semi-final.
Stay tuned for more news from Ireland!