I went on a bucket list trip and ended up ticking off two!
I was born in the late 80s so, sadly, I only remember three songs from watching them live rather than on repeat over the years — In Your Eyes by Niamh Kavanagh in 1993, Rock 'n' Roll Kids by Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan the following year and Eimear Quinn with The Voice in 1996.
We also won with All Kinds of Everything, performed by Dana in 1970, What's Another Year? in 1980 and Hold Me Now in 1987, both sung by Johnny Logan, and Why Me? by Linda Martin in 1992.
All were exceptional songs, but I don't think anyone will ever forget the 1994 Eurovision, held in Dublin. That, of course, was the year of Riverdance — the interval show produced and directed by Moya Doherty and John Colgan and performed by Michael Flatley, Jean Butler and co.
I grew up in a Eurovision-mad household. My mam absolutely adored the contest and every year we'd all huddle around the TV with our various goodies and watch it until the very last 'douze points' was awarded — even if that was way past my bedtime in the mid-90s!
We haven't been very successful in the modern-day Eurovision era but that hasn't dulled the contest's allure for me.
So when I was invited to this year's contest by the show's International sponsor, Royal Caribbean, I jumped at the chance to go to my very first Eurovision. And it is a trip I will never, ever forget. And not only because this was my first time going to Eurovision, it was also my first time to visit Switzerland.
This year's contest was held in Basel in northwest Switzerland and close to the country's borders with France and Germany. In fact, when you land, your phone goes in and out of service between different providers — some Swizz companies, some French ones!
The medieval Basel old town centres around Marktplatz, which is dominated by the 16th-century red-sandstone Town Hall — a stunning building — and a hive of activity over the weekend of May 17 as Eurovision fans from all over the world gathered to cheer on their country's act.
Unfortunately, and in my opinion, unfairly, our act EMMY lost out on a place in the final the day before I flew out for the weekend — even though her song Laika Party was an absolute banger and was even played by all the other delegations over the course of the weekend as Basel was awash with Eurovision fever.
As the city sits right on the Rhine, there are fabulous cafes, restaurants and bars dotted all along the water. Our hotel, Hotel Krafft Basel, overlooked the water on one side, and a buzzing bar on the other — perfect for Eurovision celeb spotting.
This four-star boutique hotel, which is located directly on the Rhine promenade and in the vibrant Rheingasse, extends over five floors and the location couldn't be better for touring all of Basel.
My balcony faced out onto the street and on the day I arrived, as I got ready in my room for night one with the door to the balcony open, I heard a distinctive and familiar voice. Rushing to the window, there he was — Rylan Clark!
Rylan was commentating for the BBC for the weekend and was embracing all things Eurovision as he rubbed shoulders with fans, dressed in his finest colour and sparkle.
That was the dress code for the weekend and it seemed everyone in Basel got the memo.
When I landed in EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, which is operated jointly by France and Switzerland, it was clear nearly everyone there was headed for Eurovision. Many weren't lucky enough to nab tickets to the contest itself — this is the most-watched show on the planet, after all — but that didn't matter, just being there was enough for many fans.
On the first night we headed for dinner at a gorgeous restaurant, Le Rhin Bleu, that sits on the banks of the Rhine, and serves possibly the freshest pasta I have ever had. You can even swim to the restaurant if you so choose — we spotted some hardy folks doing so as we sat, dry, tucking into our dinner.
The great thing about Basel, too, is it is incredibly accessible. The city centre is walkable for the most part but if you don't want to be on your feet, the tram service is second to none.
We took two trams from the airport to the hotel, with swapover as easy as it comes. There are plenty of stops too, so you're never a long walk from your final destination once you get off the tram.
We used the tram service all weekend and never waited more than three minutes for one to come, including the one which took us home from the Eurovision final in the very small hours of the morning — after Marvin Humes, of JLS fame or The Hit List if you love a music gameshow, spinned some tunes for us at the show's afterparty.
If you prefer to use taxis, though Switzerland is certainly expensive, taxi fares are reasonable. It was less than €20 for the 20-minute trip to the airport on Sunday morning. I couldn't face a tram!
I was one of the lucky couple of thousand who got a ticket to the show's final, as well as backstage access the day before the show to get a glimpse into the monumental work that goes into a production of this calibre and entry to the hospitality suite before and after the show.
I even met Ireland's most-loved twins, Jedward, who are Eurovision royalty after they represented us with Lipstick in 2011 and Waterline in 2012 — the first time Ireland has sent the same act to Eurovision in consecutive years.
If you didn't get your hands on tickets to the St. Jakobshalle Arena for the show, there was around 36,000 people watching from St. Jakob-Park, Switzerland's largest football stadium.
You could also feel the spirit of the final with a walk down Eurovision Street which had live bands playing and people in sequins and elaborate costumes dancing and singing in the streets Or gather at the Eurovision Village in Messe Basel for daily live concerts, public viewings, and food stalls.
Before I headed to Basel, this was a bucket list trip for me and, after a weekend in the city, it seems I've ticked off two without even knowing it...
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