News - Live: National final in Ireland | Eurovision Song Contest News - Azerbaijan 2012 

The Irish national final to determine the country's representative at this year's Eurovision Song Contest is about to be held. Five acts will compete for the Irish ticket to Oslo.

Keep up-to-date from Dublin, with live updates direct from RTÉ Studio 4 and backstage at the Irish National final here... Refresh page for the latest news and follow the live report below also.

How to watch?

A webcast will be made available here or through eurovision.tv here.

1. Leanne Moore - Does heaven need much more?
   (Written by Tommy Moran & John Waters) 
2. Lee Bradshaw - River of silence
   (Music: Ralph Siegel, Lyrics: John O'Flynn & Jose Santana)
3. Michael Graham - Baby, nothing's wrong
   (Written by Michael Graham, Scott Newman & Yann O'Brien)
4. Monika Ivkic - Fashion queen
   (Written by Marc Paelinck & Mathias Strasser)
5. Niamh Kavanagh - It's for you
   (Music: Niall Mooney, Marten Eriksson, Lina Eriksson & Jonas Gladnikoff)

LIVE

Tonight's host, "The Late Late Show" presenter Ryan Tubridy welcomes the audience and explains tonight's procedure. The Irish Eurovision Song Contest representative will be determined by a mixture of jury and televoting.

First ever Irish Eurovision Song Contest winner Dana takes over the stage with a 2010 interpretation of her winning song All kinds of everything, still looking almost as young and innocent as back in 1970. 

Three times Eurovision Song Contest winner Johnny Logan now joins Dana on stage, reminiscing about his experiences at Eurovision.

Johnny mentions that the Eurovision Song Contest belongs to the Irish people and not to a bunch of RTÉ executives. When being asked about whether he believes that songs like his own winning songs or All kinds of everything could still win the contest these days, he answers that he has to believe they still can.

Next, Irish Eurovision commentator Marty Whelan joins tonight's panel.

Before gettings started with tonight's five hopefuls, a recap of the Eurovision Song Contest winners of recent years is being shown.

1. Leanne Moore - Does heaven need much more?

Current estoday.com poll result: =3rd (7.1%)

Does heaven need much more is penned by the same team behind the 2007 Irish Eurovision Song Contest entry They can't stop the spring, performed by Dervish. While They can't stop the spring was dominated by folk elements, Does heaven need much more is a typical pop tune, probably a bit similar to an early Kylie Minogue, or rather "Kylie Minogue for the poor", as it ends up being rather annoying  than catchy. Singer Leanne Moore is the winner of the 2008 series of RTÉ's You're a Star. She and her four backing singers are dressed in mini skirts, adding to the visual realization of the song's girlishness. All in all, the bubblegum pop song probably won't be among tonight's favourites, who are pre-dominantly to be found at the end of tonight's line-up.

Dana thinks that it's a good, strong pop-song but also adding that she doesn't want to influence anyone as it's up to the people at home to judge.

Johnny states that the girls look great but is of the opinion that the song itself is the way to go for Ireland.

In Marty's view, the song is good fun but would not be outstanding at the Eurovision Song Contest, which creates a problem.

2. Lee Bradshaw - Rivers of silence

Current esctoday.com poll result: 5th (6.1%)

German Mr. Eurovision, Ralph 'Nicole' Siegel, has found his way into the Irish national final. He is responsible for 14 German entries, among them the 1982 winner Ein bißchen Frieden, Germany's only winning song so far, three Luxembourgian entries, one Swiss entry, as well as last year's Montenegrin entry. As usual, the lyrics of his Irish bit are coming from Bernd Meinunger, hidden under the pseudonym "John O'Flynn", who wrote River of silence together with the Spaniard Jose Santana.

Lee Bradshaw previously came fourth in last year's Irish national final with So what and things are not looking too good for him to win this time either. His song Rivers of silence doesn't manage leave much of an impact. It's not like Siegel's schlagers of previous years, this song was obviously meant to be more contemporary but got lost somewhere at complete and utter indifference. Lee has a band at his disposal and dressed in blue jeans, a white shirt and a black sack coat. It seems unlikely that this act will stand much of a chance tonight.

Marty concentrates on the song's composer, stating that Ralph is a legend yet being honest saying that this song won't have the power to take Ireland all the way. He believes that there is another song in tonight's line-up that could possibly lead Ireland to victory.

Johnny Logan states that Siegel's song is nice listening but fails to judge it properly due to being friends with Ralph.

Dana feels the same way as Johnny, saying that she feels very uncomfortable in the role of judging this song and refuses to say more than the fact the she likes the song.

3. Michael Graham - Baby, nothing's wrong

Current esctoday.com poll result: =3rd (7.1%)

Michael Graham is known for being part of Louis Walsh's boygroup Boyzone, who were active from 1993 until 2000 and reunited in 2007. The song he is competing with tonight, Baby, nothings's wrong, has no drive and just seems to be languishing through its' three minutes. If it wasn't for the singer's name, this song probably wouldn't find a lot of attention and be unlikely to stand a chance at all tonight. Michael is classically dressed in a black suit, supported by a piano player, a guitarist, a saxophonist and two violin players. The whole act probably would suit better into a piano bar, rather than a national final.

Dana really likes Michael's his voice and the way he is singing the song.

Marty enjoyed the whole performance, thinking that he might do well with that in Oslo.

Johnny agrees with Dana and says that he recognized shades of Elton John in this act but adds that he is not sure if the song itself has the power to stand out. 

4. Monika Ivkic - Fashion queen

Current esctoday.com poll result: 2nd (15.8%)

The Austrian based singer Monika Ivkic, who is of Bosnian origin, is best known for competing in all kinds of Idol formats, in Germany as well as in Austria. She never won in any of those shows (18th place in Austrian Idol show "Starmania", fourth place in German Idol Show "DSDS") but that did not keep her from releasing a book last year about "how to become a superstar". Now, she is competing in the Irish pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with Fashion queen, a song composed by Marc Paelinck, the man behind the 2009 Maltese Eurovision entry, as well as the Belgian entries of 2002 and 2004.  The title Fashion queen augured badly, but the song actually is quite a catchy one and probably not bad within its' genre. The song has got a 40's- feeling to it, also a little bit reminiscent of Beyoncé and Xtina. Due to the lack of better songs, this might actually be tonight's best entry, after Niamh Kavanagh. Monika certainly has got persistence and knows how to sing. The stage performance is very polished and Monika's vocals are really good. She is supported by two dancers and three backing singers. Without a doubt, this is the best act out of the four we have seen so far. However, the question is whether the Irish really are willing to let an entry without any Irish involvement compete for them at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Dana thinks that it's a catchy and very well-performed number.

For Johnny, Monika reminded him of Beyoncé, stating that she has a great voice.

Marty says that she is bound to get Ireland some points due to the international team behind the song. He felt well- entertained by the act.

5. Niamh Kavanagh - It's for you

Current esctoday.com poll result: 1st (63.9%)

Eventually, a former Eurovision Song Contest winner is giving it another try: It's 1993 winner Niamh Kavanagh, who is remembered for giving one of the most passionate and convincing winner's performances in the history of the contest. Naturally, the expectations for her are the highest and we are about to find out if It's for you will meet the standards of her 1993 winning song In your eyes.

It's for you is a quite conventional a ballad, easy on the ear, involving an instrumental flute part thus giving the song a bit of an Irish identity. This elegant song lives due to Niamh's enchanting voice. It's for you shows similarities to this year's Norwegian entry My heart is yours to some parts and both singers are good performers but focussing on the studio versions, Niamh wins it. Her song also fulfills a lot of clichés and is not the freshest but her elegant voice saves the act and manages to touch the hearts of the audience. Niamh looks beautiful in the long black evening dress she wearing. As expected from her, she deliever a flawless vocal performance and receives big applause already during her performance.  Out of tonight's five hopefuls, Niamh probably is the best choice for representing Ireland in a dignified way. The audience is 100% on Niamh's side as well.

Marty just loves it and states that Niamh is fantastic and that he also loves the song.

Johnny thinks that It's for you is a lovely song and states that this song has got an Irish feel to it.

Dana thinks that Niamh is one of the best voices to ever come out of Ireland.

This concludes tonight's performances. Our poll will be closed in five minutes. 

Our poll is closed for voting now. You can find the updated results above.

Michael Ball now talks to the host. In 1992, he came 2nd for the United Kindom, the year when Linda Martin won for Ireland with Why me, written by Johnny Logan.

Now, we are being treated with a recap of selected interval acts we have seen in the Eurovision Song Contest over the years.

We are coming closer to the announcement of the results. Meanwhile, Johnny Logan is performing his first winning song, What's another year, from 1980.

The results are coming in.

Before the announcement of the results, the panel is asked about their honest opinon. Marty thinks that Niamh could go all the way at the Eurovision Song Contest. Michael says it's a one- horse-race for Niamh. Johnny also clearly opts for Niamh and says he loves the Irish feel in her song. Dana states that she just loves Niamh's voice and that her song reminds her of the Titanic-theme. 

Niamh Kavanagh has won the national final and will represent Ireland in Oslo.