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Where are they now? Irish Eurovision siblings Donna and Joseph McCaul

Where are they now? Irish Eurovision siblings Donna and Joseph McCaul

Extra.ie​18-05-2025

Irish brother and sister act Donna and Joe McCaul, also known as The McCauls, represented Ireland in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest, which was held in Kyiv, Ukraine.
The Athlone siblings, were 21 and 16 years old at the time, and represented Ireland with their song, Love?
They flew the flag for the Irish after winning RTÉ's You're a Star in March 2005. Irish brother and sister act Donna and Joe McCaul, also known as The McCauls, represented Ireland in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest, which was held in Kyiv, Ukraine. Pic: Anatoly Maltsev/EPA/REX/Shutterstock
The duo had hoped to finish in the top ten of the semi-final stages in a bid to qualify for the finals on May 21, 2005, but alas did not qualify, with Louis Walsh branding the youngsters 'amateurs.'
Rebranding as simply The McCauls following their Eurovision attempt, the siblings went on to appear on The Podge and Rodge Show as well as Irish reality TV show Fáilte Towers.
In 2011, the brother and sister duo performed their Eurovision single at the wedding of Alan Hughes and Karl Broderick (who wrote the song) at the Mansion House, Dublin.
Having gone separate ways in the music industry since, the pair are still immersed in music, with Donna throwing her name into the hat for another go at the Eurovision.
Entering her song Mercy to represent Ireland in 2012, Donna lost out to fellow former Eurovision contestants, Jedward, who sang their song Mercy.
Both siblings tried their hands at TV singing competitions — Donna made it to the blind auditions of The Voice USA in February 2015. Both siblings tried their hands at TV singing competitions — Donna made it to the blind auditions of The Voice USA in February 2015. Pic: Facebook/ Donna McCaul
In September of the same year, Joe auditioned for the 12th series of The X Factor. He was eliminated at the six chair challenge stage.
Now, nearly 20 years after representing Ireland at the Eurovision, Donna is based in sunny Los Angeles, where she was originally in a band, Weekend Celebrity.
She has since started up, Identity Theft.
The now 39-year-old married her other half Shanna in 2020, previously telling EVOKE that they are ready to take the next step and start a family. In September of the same year, Joe auditioned for the 12th series of The X Factor. He was eliminated at the six chair challenge stage. Pic: YouTube/ X Factor
According to Joe's X page, he is still involved in music and sings with The Good, The Bad and The Funky, however it appears he remains a lot more private than his sister.
Both siblings have suffered with health complications in recent years with Donna previously appealing for donations to help fund surgery to remove cysts from her breasts and ovaries.
In 2014, Joe revealed he had been diagnosed with MS. Speaking to the Irish Independent he said 'my world crumbled around me.'

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