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Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Donal Skehan calls for current Eurosong format to be scrapped
Celebrity chef Donal Skehan has called on the Eurosong format to be scrapped, as he praised RTE for asking song contest bosses for a breakdown of our vote. Drama unfolded earlier this month after Ireland's hopeful, Norwegian singer Emmy, failed to qualify in this year's song contest with Laika Party, as Austrian entry JJ eventually won performing Wasted Love. The results prompted calls by RTE to investigate the voting breakdown by the EBU. Speaking on the first day of Bord Bia Bloom yesterday, Donal – who took part in the 2008 Eurosong contest to find Ireland's entry – described Emmy not making it to the final as "tough", saying RTE are right to ask for the voting breakdown. Donal said: "Oh, it was tough. And I feel for Emmy, because I think she represented us really well. "But you know, when we were judging on the night, I always kind of thought it was one of those songs, it was going to go either way, and we were just unlucky." The telly chef added: "Look, Ireland needs to do something different. Ireland needs to do something special. "And it needs to be something that comes from the artists themselves, a real creative look at what it's going to be. "And you have to remember that it's not just the Eurosong stage in Ireland, it's a stage in front of 250 million people that they have to perform on. "So it really has to be thought the whole way through. "I said it on the night [of Eurosong]. I mean, I think you look around Europe and you see Sweden has Melody Festival, and Finland has this huge stadium show with four nights across, you know, a couple of months and they create really strong entries because of that. "And also the entry, the competitors get the opportunity to perform on that level and that stage that is similar to Eurovision. So I think we do need to step it up." Donal hit the headlines earlier this year when Eurosong hopeful Samantha Mumba questioned his credentials to judge other artists. He revealed there has been "no communication at all" with the Gotta Tell You singer. He said: "I don't know if I'd be asked [back to Eurosong]. But, as I said, in some way the format itself just needs to change, you know. "And I think it is hard for people to be judged on the night. "And I think, in essence, what we want to see as a format is something that you put people forward and the entry stands alone." He praised RTE for looking for the voting breakdown of Eurovision last week, saying: "Everyone who was watching was a bit confused about what was going on, particularly with the mood and the feeling of what most Irish people feel." President Michael D Higgins opened the first rain-soaked day of the five-day event in Dublin's Phoenix Park, and called on more support for local producers. During his 20-minute speech, he received a round of applause after passionately telling people that "harmful retail practices" are damaging local producers. The President said: "May I also take a moment to add my voice in support of those commercial producers who have stayed with the production of vegetables, those who labour diligently and all too often without due recognition or remuneration. "Their numbers, sadly, have dwindled to fewer than 100. "These men and women are facing untenable pressures, not least the harmful retail practices that result in produce being sold as 'loss leaders' below the cost of production. "This is a disgrace. This cannot continue. If we are serious about food security, about fairness, sincere in our commitment to sustainability, we must support our shrinking community of producers who play a vital role in sustainable food production." Mr Higgins also spoke about the impact of climate change and biodiversity, saying: "Bloom's ongoing success is undoubtedly a reflection too of our welcome, albeit late, collective acknowledgment across society that we live on a fragile planet, one that is facing catastrophic climate change and ecological breakdown. "We are living, as we all know, in an era of profound environmental challenges, one that is defined by shared interacting crises. "The world's leading climate scientists have told us, with increasing urgency, that the planet we share is in peril. Biodiversity loss and the accelerating and devastating consequences of a warming world are no longer projections, they are now our lived experience." He added: "The impacts of climate change in Ireland are impacts with which we are all familiar. They are reflected by not only the threat but the experience of the consequences of rising sea levels, and also, of course, by an increased frequency and severity of weather events such as high-impact storms, droughts and floods. "Too many of us will have experienced the dreadful consequences of Storm Eowyn at the end of January. "May I take this opportunity to thank again all those who worked to address the severe consequences, including all of the first-responders, for their valiant efforts. "We have to make ourselves aware of the imbalance between those who are carrying the consequences of a warming Earth and those who contributed to where we find ourselves in terms of the climate change which has been provoked." He then visited the show gardens and stopped by at Nature's Symphony: Celebrating Organic Growth. The garden highlights Ireland's commitment to advancing its organic agriculture sector and is also closely guarded by Macnas Con Mor, the artwork which the President referenced in his speech earlier that day. He said: "I am deeply honoured that the garden includes a reference to my own long-standing support for organic food production, sustainability, and the arts. "The presence of Con Mor, the gentle eco-conscious giant from the West of Ireland, is a particular delight. Con Mor, a protector of birds, lover of trees, symbol of ancestral wisdom, reminds us of the myths and stories that connect us to our landscapes, and that continue to inspire new generations of guardians of the Earth." Taoiseach Micheal Martin visited a number of gardens and met with food producers at Bloom. Elsewhere, Repak's Most Sorted Garden, designed by James Purdy, won Gold and Best in Category in the prestigious Large Garden category. Created to engage the public in the future of recycling, the Most Sorted Garden serves as an example that waste is not an inevitability, but a challenge that can be solved through smart design and sustainable thinking. James said: "This garden is about showing that sustainability doesn't mean compromise, it can be beautiful, functional, and thought-provoking. I'm grateful to Repak for the opportunity to tell this story and for supporting a vision where every element is intentional, regenerative, and truly circular." Speaking about the win, Repak chief Zoe Kavanagh said: "We are incredibly proud of this achievement. James Purdy has brought Repak's vision to life with creativity and conviction. "The Most Sorted Garden embodies the circular economy by proving that with considered design, we can eliminate waste and give materials a second life." She added: "This award is a testament to the importance of sustainability and innovation in shaping a greener future for Ireland."
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Eurovision 2025 watched by 166 million
The Eurovision Song Contest confirmed its place as the world's biggest live televised music event with 166 million viewers in 37 countries watching the 2025 competition, organisers have said. This year's 69th edition in Basel, Switzerland, attracted three million more viewers than last year's contest in Malmö, Sweden, said the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The EBU said Eurovision had seen significant increases in youth engagement with a record 60% of viewers aged 15-24 tuning into the competition. The 17 May final was won by 24-year-old Austrian JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, singing Wasted Love, which blended techno beats with operatic vocals. "This year's Eurovision Song Contest has once again demonstrated its extraordinary power to unite millions across continents through the joy of music and shared celebration," said Eurovision director Martin Green. After the drama as the votes from national juries and the public were revealed, Austria finished with 436 points, ahead of Israel - whose participation drew protests - on 357, and Estonia on 356. Votes were cast from 146 states, with viewers in the United States and Canada voting the most outside Europe, ahead of Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, and South Africa. The final commanded viewing shares were above 50% in 19 of the 37 European markets, led by Iceland (98%), Finland (91%), Sweden (90%), Norway (85%), and Denmark (75%). The viewing shares in Finland and in France (40%) were the highest ever for Eurovision in those countries. The highest average audience was in Germany, with 9.1 million viewers - the best figures since 2016, said the EBU. Meanwhile, there were 969 million views on Instagram and 748.5 million on TikTok. Following JJ's win, next year's event will be hosted in Austria. Last week, Eurovision director Martin Green released an open letter following voting concerns surrounding this year's competition. The statement came amid ongoing debates regarding Israel's promotion of its entry, as well as discussions among several national broadcasters about the current voting system. In his letter, Martin Green said Eurovision employs specially developed systems designed to prevent fraudulent voting. "Every year the Reference Group for the Contest, which contains representatives from and acts on behalf of our Members, studies the data provided by our voting partner Once to make recommendations of any actions available to us to ensure our rules and systems remain fail safe and take into account contemporary external factors such as advances in technology and external influences," he wrote. "This process will happen as it always does in June this year."
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Ryan Garner set for Bournemouth return to defend EBU belt against Reece Bellotti
Ryan Garner's next opponent has been confirmed, with the super featherweight set to defend his EBU title against Reece Bellotti. Undefeated Garner, (7-0 (8), picked up the EBU strap in March at the Bournemouth International Centre with a unanimous decision over the then-unbeaten Salvador Jimenez. Fighting out of Southampton, 'The Piranha' is set to travel to neighbouring Bournemouth on 26 July in a voluntary mandatory defence against Bellotti, 20-5 (15). Bellotti holds the the British and Commonwealth titles at super featherweight. Garner had been in talks with fellow Briton James 'Jazza' Dickens, 34-5 (14). Aside from his EBU title, Garner also holds the WBC international strap, having successfully defended it four times since winning it against Juan Jesus Antunez. Garner is seventh in the WBC's ratings and 13th with the IBF. Belotti is ranked 21st by the WBC and is unlisted by the other big three boxing organisations. 27-year-old Garner will hope that victory over Bellotti catapults him higher up the super-featherweight division. The weight class has thrown up some eye-catching bouts recently, with Anthony Cacace and Leigh Wood going head-to-head last weekend. Former IBF and current IBO champion Cacace managed to stop Wood in his own backyard. Garner was twice set to fight Cacace, only for bouts to fall through in April 2022 and November 2023. Garner has since admitted that either fight against Cacace would have come too soon for the Hampshire boxer, who is slowly building to world title contention. Ever since becoming a professional, Garner has been signed to Frank Warren's Queensbury Promotions.
Irish Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Charging Kneecap with terrorism offences brings out the inner republican in us
My inner republican rose up when I heard British police charged one of Kneecap with terrorism offences. The Brits: never not at it, I thought to myself. Yet another way to silence Irish voices and stifle Irish culture. My mind went back to Thatcherism and Nicky Kelly and even Bobby Sands. I finally reeled myself in when I got to the Penal Laws and 800 years of oppression. I'm not even a fan of Kneecap. I think they're sad panto nationalists, glorifying terrorism in tricolour balaclavas, from the safe position of not being directly affected by it. They do one thing on stage and say another off it, so to me, their authenticity is in question. They're the Wolfe Tones in tracksuits, as the punk poet Jinx Lennon said. But my defensive reaction to Kneecap's Liam Og O hAnnaidh being charged with terrorism offences for waving a Hezbollah flag was probably natural for someone who grew up in a republican house in the fraught 1980s and 1990s. I'm also a strong supporter of free speech and expression, even when I find that speech or expression deeply wrong - which I definitely do, in O hAnnaidh's case. Police said he's accused of displaying the flag 'in such a way or such circumstances to arouse reasonable suspicion he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation." Charging a young fella with serious terrorist offences in a situation like this is excessive heavy-handedness. Granted, there's a certain revolutionary cachet to it, for the rapper. But the reality is, he won't get into the USA if he has a terrorism conviction. That would be the end of Kneecap's American ambitions. However, that's their law, as anyone thinking of doing something like this in front of a crowd of thousands in Britain should know. Their courts will decide next month. Anyway, the whole case is an overall part of the culture battle around the Israel Gaza war that I find excruciating. It all seems petty palavar compared to the nightmarish realities of what's happening there on the ground. The tinfoil-hat theory that Israel rigged the Eurovision voting is more such nonsense. Some can't fathom how Israel came first in the public vote, so it must be a conspiracy. This is despite the fact the EBU says the voting system is one of the most advanced in the world, independently checked and verified by a huge team of people. RTE has requested a breakdown in voting numbers from the EBU and TD Paul Murphy urged the national broadcaster to review the votes. Why would Israel bother, and to what end? The more obvious explanation is voters liked Yuval Raphael's entry. She's a survivor of the October 7 attacks, who sounded like Celine Dion singing a Bond theme. The aim ultimately is to ban Israel from the contest over its military action in Gaza. It all seems so silly, but dark events this week put a new complexion on the cultural conversation around it. First of all, the world watched in horror as thousands in Gaza were brought to the brink of death by Israel's refusal to lift its 11-week blockade. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he only bowed to pressure to ease it as allies 'could not tolerate images of mass famine.' Then on Wednesday night, two staff members of the Israeli embassy in Washington DC were shot and killed while leaving an event at a Jewish museum. The victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were a couple in their 20s due to be married. They were leaving an event in the Capital Jewish Museum when the suspect opened fire. He yelled: 'Free, free Palestine' when arrested. We're at a dangerous point in the world. The reality is we're all going to have to tread carefully when it comes to discussing this most contentious issue of our time. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Could Eurovision 2026 go on without Israel?
According to The Guardian, Austria's 24-year-old Eurovision winner, Johannes Pietsch, better known by his stage name JJ, has ignited a political firestorm after calling for Israel to be excluded from next year's song contest in Vienna. "It is very disappointing to see that Israel continues to participate in the contest," JJ told Spanish outlet El País in a post-victory interview. "I would like next year's Eurovision to take place in Vienna without Israel." The singer's comments come amid mounting global scrutiny over Israel's brutal aggression against Gaza. Despite widespread protests and activist pressure during this year's contest in Switzerland, Israel competed with Yuval Raphael's entry New Day Will Rise, which placed second after a surge in public voting. JJ questioned the transparency of that vote, noting the Israeli artist's sudden leap in points. "This year, everything happened in a very strange way," he said. He also demanded "greater transparency" in the Eurovision voting process and questioned whether the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) was applying its rules consistently. "The ball is in the court of the organisers," JJ acknowledged. "We, the artists, can only express our views on the subject." His remarks triggered a swift response from Austria's national broadcaster ORF, which moved to distance itself from the controversy, emphasising that JJ's views "reflected a personal opinion." Through his label Warner, the singer later added he was "sorry if his comments had been misinterpreted." Still, JJ's stance has struck a chord beyond Austria. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, one of Europe's most vocal critics of Israeli policy, also called for Israel's exclusion from Eurovision, citing cultural "double standards." In 2022, Russia was banned from Eurovision following its war with Ukraine. "What we cannot allow are double standards in culture," Sánchez said on Monday, referencing Russia's continued ban from the contest. As calls grow for the EBU to reassess its position, pressure is mounting to ensure that Eurovision, a contest that claims to celebrate unity and peace, does not become, as critics fear, a stage for selective solidarity. Whether the EBU will act on JJ's plea remains to be seen. As Israel's military aggression in Gaza continues unabated, over 53,000 Palestinians have been killed and 122,382 injured to date, according to Al Jazeera. In response to this worsening humanitarian crisis, artists and audiences alike are asking difficult questions about complicity, cultural diplomacy, and what Eurovision truly stands for.
