New song contest selection process announced

RTÉ has announced a new selection process for next year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

The station has rejigged its selection process a number of times in recent years to boost Ireland’s flagging fortunes in the event.

Under the new format, five industry music professionals have been chosen to each source or commission a song and a performer.

Each of the mentors will then develop their own entrant to compete in Eurosong 2011 where the winner will be selected by a combination of public vote and regional juries.

The change comes after the country’s 2010 entry, It’s For You, sung by former Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh, finished third last with just 25 points. It was, however, the first time in three years Ireland had qualified to appear in the final.

Speaking about the decision, RTÉ Eurovision co-ordinator Julian Vignoles said: “This year we have decided to suspend the open call for entries and instead harness the skills and experience of professionals in the Irish music business to source the talent and the song that has the potential to be a Eurovision winner.”

The five mentors are Caroline Downey-Desmond, a director of music promoters MCD; Lord of the Dancecomposer Ronan Hardiman; Riverdance musical director David Hayes; chairman of EMI Music Ireland Willie Kavanagh; and composer and performer Liam Lawton.

Mr Vignoles said: “Given our mixed results in recent years, we felt it was our duty to see what method could improve Ireland’s chances of winning on the Eurovision stage.”

A documentary of the mentoring process will be broadcast before the five entries are performed on The Late Late Showon February 11th. The winner will represent Ireland in the Eurovision semi-final in Düsseldorf in May.