Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999
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Ireland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1999 with the song "When You Need Me", written by Bronagh Mullan, and performed by The Mullans. The Irish participating broadcaster, Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ), selected its entry through a national final.
Before Eurovision
Eurosong '99
Réalta '99
Réalta was a radio song contest started in 1995 by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta exclusively for Irish songs. The first edition of the contest was not related to Eurosong, but from 1996 until 1999, the recent winner of Réalta would qualify to Eurosong. Ten songs were chosen to compete in the 5th edition of Réalta and, starting on 2 December 1998, one song was presented each day between 10:30 and 11:00 (GMT) on the radio show Ar Maidin. The final of Réalta '99 was broadcast at 10:00 (GMT) on 18 December 1998 and was hosted by Seán Ó hÉanaigh. The results of Réalta '99 were decided by a 3-member jury consisting of Carrie Crowley, Eithne Ní Uallacháin, and Cian Ó Ciobháin. However, the running order and results of Réalta '99 are unknown.
| Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Brendan Devereaux | "An tíogar ceilteach" | Maoilre de Búrca, Brendan Devereaux |
| Brighdin Carr & Tina McDaid | "Saor" | Brighdin Carr |
| Cathal Ó Catháin | "Is fiú is féidir" | Cathal Ó Catháin |
| Colm Mac Séalaigh | "Eileanóir" | Colm Mac Séalaigh |
| Damian Mac Gabhann | "Is féidir linn" | Damian Mac Gabhann |
| Helen Uí Dhunáird | "Oileán intinne" | Seán Ó Coisdealbha, Helen Uí Dhunáird |
| Máiré Ní Mhaoilbhín | "Glór na dtonn" | Siobhán Ní Mhurchú, Micheál Ó hAllmhuráin |
| Maria NÍ Chumhaill | "Tamall dom" | Éamonn Friel, Dave Duggan |
| Pól Ó Colmáin | "Siúil amach an doras" | Pól Ó Colmáin |
| Proinsias Mac an Tuile | "An bon bon carr" | Proinsias Mac an Tuile, Bríd Ní Mhurchú |
Final
RTÉ held Eurosong '99 on 7 March at the RTÉ Television Centre in Dublin, hosted by Pat Kenny. Eight artists and songs were selected to compete which were presented on 9 January 1999 on the RTÉ show Kenny Live.[citation needed] Regional televoting determined the winner and after the combination of votes, "When You Need Me" performed by the Mullans was selected as the winner.
| R/O | Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) | Points | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigel Connell | "I Believed" | Danny Sheerin, Des Sheerin | 37 | 6 |
| 2 | Brendan Keeley | "You Must Have Been Crazy" | Brendan Keeley, Graham Murphy | 66 | 2 |
| 3 | Barry Doyle | "Run to Me" | Barry Doyle | 22 | 8 |
| 4 | Tommy Quinn | "You Can't Fight It" | John Fitzpatrick | 27 | 7 |
| 5 | Maggie Toal and Andy McComish | "I Won't Ever Let You Go" | Stephen Nimmon | 57 | 3 |
| 6 | Doona | "An bon bon carr" | Proínsias Mac an Tuile, Bríd Ní Mhurchú | 48 | 4 |
| 7 | Gary O'Shaughnessy | "I'll Be There" | Denise Reynolds | 44 | 5 |
| 8 | The Mullans | "When You Need Me" | Bronagh Mullan | 84 | 1 |
| Song | Dialling codes | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05 | 02 | 06 | 09 | 07 | 04 | 01 | ||
| Waterford | Cork | Limerick | Galway | Sligo | Dundalk | Dublin | ||
| "I Believed" | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 37 |
| "You Must Have Been Crazy" | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 66 |
| "Run to Me" | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 22 |
| "You Can't Fight It" | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 27 |
| "I Won't Ever Let You Go" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 57 |
| "An bon bon carr" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 48 |
| "I'll Be There" | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 44 |
| "When You Need Me" | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 84 |
At Eurovision
The Mullans performed 17th in the running order on the evening of the contest. "When You Need Me" picked up 18 points, finishing in 17th place.
Voting
| Score | Country |
|---|---|
| Points awarded to Ireland Score Country 12 points Lithuania 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points United Kingdom 3 points 2 points 1 point NorwayTurkey | Points awarded by Ireland Score Country 12 points Slovenia 10 points Belgium 8 points Estonia 7 points Denmark 6 points Croatia 5 points Sweden 4 points Iceland 3 points Norway 2 points France 1 point Netherlands |
| 12 points | Lithuania |
| 10 points | |
| 8 points | |
| 7 points | |
| 6 points | |
| 5 points | |
| 4 points | United Kingdom |
| 3 points | |
| 2 points | |
| 1 point | NorwayTurkey |
| Score | Country |
| 12 points | Slovenia |
| 10 points | Belgium |
| 8 points | Estonia |
| 7 points | Denmark |
| 6 points | Croatia |
| 5 points | Sweden |
| 4 points | Iceland |
| 3 points | Norway |
| 2 points | France |
| 1 point | Netherlands |