Latest news with #Eurosong
Irish Independent
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wicklow music teacher and Eurosong finalist to return home on debut album tour
Launched at the Mermaid Arts Centre in January, the album is a heartfelt collection of songs that span themes of love, loss, and life-changing events, showcasing former Eurosong finalist Naoimh's dynamic range as a vocalist and songwriter, with musical arrangements that blend elements of theatre, country, rock, and classical influences. Charting a musical journey that has seen her perform at the Cork Opera House, the National Concert Hall, on RTE, BBC, in musical theatre, and become a music teacher in Loreto Abbey Dalkey, No Fury is an eclectic mix of genres and styles that perfectly mirror the varied experiences that have shaped Naoimh's life and music. Alongside performances at Whelan's (June 29) in Dublin, Wexford Arts Centre (July 18), the Civic Studio Theatre in Tallaght (August 16), Naoimh will return home to Arklow for an intimate concert at Studio 55 in the Bridgewater Shopping Centre on July 12 at 8.30 pm. Giddy with anticipation ahead of her homecoming, Naoimh said: 'It's the most panoramic location in the town, the views are spectacular and it's home to my friend Martina Lynch, director of the Studio 55 Dance Academy.' A limited number of tickets are available for Naoimh's Studio 55 gig via Once sold out, no tickets will be available at the door on the night.
Irish Daily Mirror
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Samantha Mumba calls for Late Late Show Eurosong to be axed
Singer Samantha Mumba has stood by her comments surrounding the Eurosong – saying she believes the Late Late Show special should be axed. The Gotta Tell You hitmaker was one of several artists hoping to represent Ireland in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, but ultimately lost out to Norwegian singer Emmy, with her song, Laika Party. Emmy since went on to fly the flag for Ireland in Basel but failed to qualify for the final. But the Eurosong became shrouded in controversy when days after the competition ended, Mumba hit out of the panel of judges – who included Donal Skehan and Arthur Gourounlian – claiming they didn't have enough credentials to be on the judging panel, with the exception of previous Eurovision entry Bambie Thug. Reflecting on the row, Mumba said she stands by her comments. Speaking to RTÉ Radio One's Brendan O'Connor Show, the singer said it was 'a very, very personal thing' for her to enter the competition and she wanted to step out of her comfort zone. 'So even doing that, and doing a song competition, isn't something that I had on my bingo list at 42 at all." She said it would have been 'ego' to believe she should not have been competing in a contest, adding: 'And it's a song competition, and I wouldn't want to represent Ireland with a song that Ireland didn't want either or do something.' She said: 'I think fair is fair, and I think if that's the process, then that's what it was. "And honestly, I was just proud of myself for doing it because it definitely wouldn't have been something that I would've been necessarily even thinking I would have the balls to do it, if I'm being totally honest, like, a few years ago. No, I loved the process of all of it." On whether she was surprised about the reaction her post on the process received, she said that 'everybody's entitled to an opinion'. "And I was a bit surprised - that wasn't even the focus. Like, I think I just... What I wrote was just at the end of the post. The focus of the post was actually just thanking everybody on the team who'd worked so hard on it. "I didn't see what the big deal was." She added that she is not on social media very often so was not aware that the post would generate the reaction it did. "But I mean, I certainly stand by what I said. I don't take it back. "I think, you know, fair is fair, if people can give their opinion on national television, surely I'm allowed to give my opinion on my own Instagram page. I think that's fair." The singer also said she believes the Eurosong should be separated from the Late Late Show into a separate programme. "I love the variety of it. I love kind of the process that it's open to everybody," she said. "I think if I had one immediate one, I would think that it should be its own show, and it definitely should be televised in a music venue that is set up for singers."
Extra.ie
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Samantha Mumba calls for axe of Late Late eurosong special
Pop star Samantha Mumba said the song contest to choose Ireland's Eurovision entry should not be staged on The Late Late Show. The teen 'Gotta Tell You' singer, now 42, yesterday indicated the RTÉ chat show is not the best venue for the Eurosong competition, saying it 'deserves its own [show]' and 'ideally' should be in a venue that is 'set up, even sound-wise, for musicians'. 'Because I don't think [a television studio] is the set-up,' she told the Brendan O'Connor Show yesterday. Samantha Mumba peforming on The Late Late Eurosong Special. Pic: Andres Poveda Mumba said she stands by her criticism of the Eurosong judging panel and was a 'bit surprised' at the amount of coverage her comments got. Mumba criticised the panel − made up of choreographer and Dancing with the Stars judge Arthur Gourounlian, 2FM broadcaster Laura Fox, cook and TV presenter Donal Skehan, and singer Bambie Thug − following The Late Late Show Eurosong Special on February 7, where she came second with My Way. Norwegian singer Emmy won with Laika Party. In an Instagram post in February, Mumba thanked supporters and expressed pride in her performance. In a later post, she said she felt 'strongly' that the judging panel 'were dismissive of all the contestants'. EMMY performs Laika Party at Trinity College Dublin. Pic: The Late Late Show via YouTube Donal Skehan responded that he stood by his role and the feedback he gave on the night, saying his comments were 'never personal'. RTÉ had also said at the time that it was 'extremely grateful' to the Eurosong judging panel for 'their professionalism, their insight, integrity, and good humour'.
Irish Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- 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."
The Irish Sun
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Beaming Samantha Mumba brushes off Eurovision disappointment & breaks silence on Ireland crashing out of competition
SAMANTHA Mumba has broken her silence following Ireland's Eurovision exit. The pop star lost out on the chance to represent Ireland at this year's Eurovision after on the Late Late Eurosong special back in January. 4 Samantha Mumba traded Eurovision for a sun escape with her family 4 Samantha was in the running to represent Ireland at this year's Eurovision The Gotta Tell You hitmaker claimed the panel - including celebrity chef and former Eurosong contestant Samantha particularly rounded on After last night's second Eurovision semi-final, Ireland 's entry Emmy READ MORE IN SAMANTHA MUMBA The Norwegian beauty delivered a of her song Laika Party, but sadly it wasn't enough. Emmy and the viewers at home waited with bated breath as each country was called out but Ireland was sadly never heard. And an unbothered Samantha posted a smiling snap on her this morning after Ireland was dumped out of the contest. The songwriter shared snaps of herself living it up on a tropical getaway. MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN The ageless star was glowing in the photo alongside her lookalike daughter, Sage. The duo beamed from ear-to-ear as the sun shone down on them whilst sunbathing on a beachfront. Samantha Mumba opens up stardom Samantha looked incredible in a grey crop top and shorts as she opted for a make-up free look. Later on, the songwriter captured an adorable picture of Sage making friends with an alpaca as they visited a petting zoo. The singer also shared a cute snap of a dozen rabbits hopping around the beach. This afternoon, Samantha and her daughter enjoyed a delicious meal at a lavish seaside restaurant with palm trees and fire pits surrounding them. It's safe to say Sam had the better week - but could she be back to represent Ireland next year? 4 Samantha's daughter, Sage, poses with an alpaca 4 Samantha shared a photo of their restaurant view
