No, it’s not Johnny Logan.
Galway man Brendan Murray has been chosen as Ireland’s performer for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv.
Murray was a member of the boyband Hometown, who announced their decision to take a break and pursue individual interests earlier this month.
Clip via HomeTownVEVO
The announcement was made on Friday’s Late Late Show, where it was also revealed that Brendan’s manager, Louis Walsh, is seeking song entries for consideration by Monday 16 January.
Louis put the call out for interested songwriters to send their songs for Brendan to sing on the Eurovision stage in May 2017.
“Brendan is perfect for Eurovision, he has a distinctive voice and a look that I think will really appeal to audiences across Europe,” said Walsh.
“I want to find the best song for Brendan to perform on that Eurovision stage. I’m going to use my own contacts in the business and I want to hear songs from Irish songwriters or songwriters abroad until I find the best song. I won’t rest until I do!”
Louis, along with a panel appointed by RTÉ, will select the song and the winning effort will be performed by Brendan on The Late Late Show in early 2017.
Showing his Eurovision chops, Brendan performed Johnny Logan’s Eurovision winning classic ‘Hold Me Now’ live on The Late Late Show. He said his Mam and Dad had been big fans of all the Irish Eurovision winners and of Johnny Logan in particular.
Commenting on the announcement, Brendan Murray said: “I’m honoured and excited to be representing Ireland in Kyiv in the biggest music competition in the world.
“I’m really looking forward to it. I was born in 1996 the last time Ireland won, so I hope that will bring me luck! But most of all I’m really excited about finding a great song that I can take to the Eurovision stage and give it my all.”
For more information about submitting a song, check out the Eurovision section on the RTÉ website.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
