Ireland | Ryan O'Shaughnessy Announced As Irish Act In Lisbon
Today Eurovision's most successful nation Ireland announced today their act and song title for Lisbon, and it is Ryan O'Shaughnessy with the song "Together"
Ryan, 25 has been given the opportunity to represent his nation in Lisbon, it was announced few days prior RTE, had selected someone internal and gave more details revealing it was "A male soloist with TV experience" this also dispelled rumours it was ex Sex Pistols artist Jonny Rotten and duo Heathers as their entry, although both acts were whittled down to the final ten of potential artists. Ryan fitted the description provided by the broadcaster perfectly, having worked in television from the age of nine years old, when the was on the Irish TV show "Fair City" he was on the show for nine years before leaving in 2010.
From there he turned to music and auditioned on The Voice Of Ireland in 2012, he survived the auditions and battle rounds before being eliminated in the first week of the live shows however, from there he hoped over the United Kingdom and competed in Britains Got Talent in the same year, however this caused a little controversy also. Ryan sailed through the auditions and during the callback round waiting to hear if he had qualified for the live shows or not, he was called in on his own, the only act to do so, Simon Cowell, there explained the team at ITV had gathered knowledge he had signed a contract with Universal Records in Ireland after advancing to the live shows on The Voice Of Ireland - both of which were happening during a similar time frame in the year, he was disqualified from the competition, however Ryan would be re-instated into the competition after he was released from Universal Records and would go on to finish 5th in the final after winning his semi final.
O'Shaughnessy today also revealed the title of his Eurovision entry, which os called "Together" it has been wrote by Ryan himself alongside Mark Caplice and Laura Elizabeth Hughes, the song itself has not been released. Ryan already has a Eurovision connection - he is the nephew or Ireland 2001 entry Gary O'Shuaghnessy.
Ireland are looking to qualify for the final for the first time since 2013, this is also the third year in a row they have selected internally and also selected a male soloist as their artist, will third time be the charm? Ireland are competing in the first semi final on Tuesday 8th May and will be performing in the second half.
