13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ireland could be set for shock Eurovision final appearance
Bookmakers have given Ireland's Eurovision entry Emmy a chance at making the grand final on Saturday, with odds of 10/11 of her song 'Laika Party' making it through the fiercely contested round.
Currently, Finland and Austria stand the best chance of making it through, with both countries boasting odds of 1/100. Israel runs a close third at 1/80. Further down the running, both Georgia and Montenegro stand a 7/1 chance of beating the other contenders, needing more than an ounce of luck spared their way.
Outright, Sweden looks to have a locked up a place in the grand final well in advance. The seven-time champions are as well-placed as ever to surpass Ireland by winning a record eighth Eurovision crown, with 5/6 odds of taking the title on Saturday.
Austria seem likeliest to challenge Sweden with odds of 3/1, while Ireland lags behind the frontrunning pack, with 100/1 odds of winning the contest outright.
'Emmy may be singing about a party in the skies but it remains to be seen whether they'll be partying in Switzerland with Ireland's qualification firmly in coin-toss territory," said Tonybet brand ambassador and former Ireland international Tony Cascarino.
"As for the outright, Sweden remains the song to beat which would unfortunately see Ireland lose its place atop the winners table.'
Sweden's last Eurovision triumph came in 2023, with Loreen's electropop single 'Tattoo' making her the second artist since Johnny Logan to win the competition twice.
Ireland's most recent win dates back to Oslo 1996, when Eimear Quinn delivered the isle its fourth Eurovision crown of the 1990s, and its seventh overall. The decades since have seen Ireland mired in the Eurovision wilderness, failing to reach the final 11 times since the semis were introduced in 2004.
Recent years have seen a slight return to form for Ireland - with Bambie Thug's 'Doomsday' scoring a sixth-place finish in 2024's Malmö final. It remains to be seen if Emmy can reach the same heights this week.
