Irish fans ‘heartbroken' as Emmy Kristiansen fails to make Eurovision final
Ireland, with ties with Sweden for the most Eurovision wins, sent the 24-year-old to perform her entry Laika Party, about a Soviet dog sent to space, during the second semi-final in Basel, Switzerland, on Thursday.
She apologised to Ireland for failing, following Austria's JJ (Johannes Pietsch) and Israeli singer Yuval Raphael, who are among the competition favourites, as well as Armenian singer PARG, Denmark's singer Sissal and Luxembourg's Laura Thorn being voted through.
Others in the final are Finland's black leather-wearing Erika Vikman; Latvian band Tautumeitas; Malta's high-energy diva Miriana Conte; and Greece's singer Klavdia.
Last year, Bambie Thug with Doomsday Blue became the first Irish entrant to make the final since Ryan O'Shaughnessy in 2018.
Outside St Jakobshalle arena, the Horgan family, made up of Amber, Oscar, Rowan, and Karen said they were 'so heartbroken, really, heartbroken, and disappointed', as well as 'really sad' to have not made the final again.
Russell Alford, from Dublin, who was at the arena with his friend Patrick Hanlon, said: 'I think Switzerland have been an incredible host city. Amazing shows. The last two nights.
'Would have loved a better result for our own country, because Ireland is one of the greatest at Eurovision, or at least historically, and once again, we're not in the final, but it was a very tough semi final for us to get out of, so a shame.'
Posting on Instagram, Kristiansen said: 'I'm so sorry, Ireland. We will forever love you and be grateful and honoured to have represented you.'
A post shared by EMMY🤍 (@emmykgk00)
Other winners include Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan with Rock 'n' Roll Kids in 1994, Niamh Kavanagh with In Your Eyes the previous year, and Linda Martin coming first with Why Me in 1992.
Dana first won the contest in 1970 with the million-seller All Kinds Of Everything; 10 years later, Johnny Logan scooped the top spot with What's Another Year, and again in 1987 with Hold Me Now.
Other qualifiers include Ryan Dolan, who finished last in 2013 with Only Love Survives, and Jedward twice in the previous two years, as well as Niamh Kavanagh in 2010.
Also during the Thursday semi-final, where UK audiences could vote, British group Remember Monday harmonised their song What The Hell Just Happened? with Bridgerton-inspired outfits.
They are already through to the grand final as 'one of the big five', along with France's Louane, German duo Abor & Tynna, Italian singer Lucio Corsi; and Spain's Melody as well as reigning champion Switzerland with Basel-born Zoe Me.
Tuesday's qualifying acts: Ukraine's Ziferblat with the song Bird Of Pray; Estonia's Tommy Cash with Espresso Macchiato; and Sweden representative's Kaj with their entry Bara Bada Bastu; will also compete.
This is along with Dutch act Claude Kiambe; Poland's Justyna Steczkowska; Icelandic electronic musician brothers VAEB; San Marino's Gabry Ponte; Albania's Shkodra Elektronike; Portugal's Napa, and Norway's Kyle Alessandro.
The Saturday event will also see 2024 Swiss winner Nemo return to the Eurovision stage, amid speculation that Canadian singer Celine Dion, who triumphed in 1988 with Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi, will perform.
Switzerland, who hosted the first contest in 1956 in Lugano, had not won for more than three decades until Nemo.
It was announced, on Thursday night, that the UK's Eurovision spokesperson, Doctor Who actor Ncuti Gatwa, would be replaced by singer and BBC Radio 2 presenter Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
The BBC said Gatwa was unable to reveal the points given by the UK national jury to other contestants during the competition's grand final, due to 'unforeseen circumstances'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
7 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
BBC art dealer from Bargain Hunt jailed for terror offence
The 53-year-old admitted to eight counts of failing to disclose during business under the Terrorism Act 2000. Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said Ojiri was aware that he had sold art to Nazem Ahmad, who had been sanctioned in 2019 by the US authorities. Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organisation in the UK (Image: Ben Whitley/PA) She stated: "These offences are so severe that only a custodial sentence can be justified." According to the BBC, the judge added: "You knew about Ahmad's suspected involvement in financing terrorism and the way the art market can be exploited by people like him. "Your hard work, talent and charisma has brought you a great deal of success... You knew you should not have been dealing with that man." She added that there was no evidence that Ojiri supported any form of extremism but that his conduct undermined he detection of terrorist financing. Representing the BBC Bargain Hunt star, Gavin Irwin said that the art expert's "humiliation is complete," adding that the star has lost "his good name" and the "work he loves." Mr Irwin added: "He'd like to apologise for undermining trust" in the art market. Discussing the case, Cdr Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: "Raising money for terrorism is a core part of how terrorist groups are then able to cause harm around the world." Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, said Ojiri's motivation appeared "to be financial, along with a broader desire to boost his gallery's reputation within the art market by dealing with such a well-known collector." He added: "This prosecution is believed to be the first of its kind, and the CPS will not hesitate to bring criminal charges against individuals who flout the law in this way." According to the House of Lords Library, Hezbollah is an armed Shiite militia group that is backed by Iran, which largely operates in Lebanon. Giving the UK Government's reasoning for classifying it as a terrorist group in 2024, it added: "It has been proscribed in its entirety by the UK as a terrorist organisation since 2019. "The current conflict between Hezbollah and Israel continues. Hezbollah has fired rockets at Israeli territory whilst Israel has launched retaliatory airstrikes—including that which saw the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah." It concluded by saying: "The UK has called for an immediate ceasefire to provide space for a diplomatic settlement."
South Wales Guardian
7 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
BBC art dealer from Bargain Hunt jailed for terror offence
The 53-year-old admitted to eight counts of failing to disclose during business under the Terrorism Act 2000. Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said Ojiri was aware that he had sold art to Nazem Ahmad, who had been sanctioned in 2019 by the US authorities. Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organisation in the UK (Image: Ben Whitley/PA) She stated: "These offences are so severe that only a custodial sentence can be justified." According to the BBC, the judge added: "You knew about Ahmad's suspected involvement in financing terrorism and the way the art market can be exploited by people like him. "Your hard work, talent and charisma has brought you a great deal of success... You knew you should not have been dealing with that man." She added that there was no evidence that Ojiri supported any form of extremism but that his conduct undermined he detection of terrorist financing. Representing the BBC Bargain Hunt star, Gavin Irwin said that the art expert's "humiliation is complete," adding that the star has lost "his good name" and the "work he loves." Mr Irwin added: "He'd like to apologise for undermining trust" in the art market. Discussing the case, Cdr Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: "Raising money for terrorism is a core part of how terrorist groups are then able to cause harm around the world." Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, said Ojiri's motivation appeared "to be financial, along with a broader desire to boost his gallery's reputation within the art market by dealing with such a well-known collector." He added: "This prosecution is believed to be the first of its kind, and the CPS will not hesitate to bring criminal charges against individuals who flout the law in this way." According to the House of Lords Library, Hezbollah is an armed Shiite militia group that is backed by Iran, which largely operates in Lebanon. Giving the UK Government's reasoning for classifying it as a terrorist group in 2024, it added: "It has been proscribed in its entirety by the UK as a terrorist organisation since 2019. "The current conflict between Hezbollah and Israel continues. Hezbollah has fired rockets at Israeli territory whilst Israel has launched retaliatory airstrikes—including that which saw the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah." It concluded by saying: "The UK has called for an immediate ceasefire to provide space for a diplomatic settlement."
Belfast Telegraph
7 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
‘I've survived cancer and grew up on the Falls – I can take being called sh**e': Brian Kennedy on criticism and his first acting role
Singer opens up to Kirsty Blake Knox about playing one of his literary heroes, his past health scares, Pride, and taking a stance on Gaza at Eurovision 'It's unrecognisable,' singer Brian Kennedy says in relation to the music industry, and how it's changed throughout his career. Kennedy is in the middle of recording his 19th album, which has the working title How Can I Keep From Singing?. '[The industry] is run more than ever by accountants and people who count numbers. There aren't really any artistic people out there running the machine, as it were.
