Introduction

• Participant(s): Nicky Byrne
• Song : Sunlight
• Writer(s): Nicky Byrne, Wayne Hector & Ronan Hardiman
• Composer(s): Nicky Byrne, Wayne Hector & Ronan Hardiman
• Broadcaster: RTÉ
• Social media:  
• Team review: 

This year the Irish broadcaster RTE has made an internal selection for the first time after years of national finals and in popular the LateLate Show. After two years without reaching the Grand Finals, RTE has put all efforts to support one selected singer, who is popular with a great song that’s Nicky Byrne with “Sunlight”. Nicky Byrne is known as a member of the boy group Westlife.

Nicky Byrne, whose full name is Nicholas Bernard James Adam Byrne was born in Dublin in 1978. Before entering the boy group Westlife, Nicky was professional goalkeeper at the Leeds United Football club. With the group Westlife he was singing from 1998 until 2012 and had 14 number 1 hits in the UK. He also had the chance to duet with Mariah Carey and Diana Ross. He also performed with the band in the Globen Arena, so it must be a great thing for Nicky to return there this year. Watch one of the most successful songs “Uptown Girl”

 
The group was having a big fan base and toured around the world and sold over 45 million records. But then the group paused and Nicky is concentrating on his solo career. He is under Universal contract. Beside of singing he is also a television and radio presenter, where he is currently presenting “The Nicky Byrne Show with Jenny Greene”. Since 2013 Nicky has been the spokesman of the Irish televotes. Nicky is married to Georgina Ahern, who is the daughter of the former Irish president Berti Ahern. They are having three children together.

The song “Sunlight” is a pop song about love and full of positive energy "Tomorrow is a new day and the sunlight shining on your face at the start of any new day should make you smile be fresh and to begin again". The good looking and sympathetic singer will get a lot of votes from former Westlife fans for sure. The song has been co-written by Wayne Hector, who has also written the German entry “Standing Still” for Roman Lob in 2012 (8th place in Baku). Let’s see if Nicky he can bewitch the Europeans with his solo project. Good Luck!

History

• Debut: 1965
• Participations: 50
• Victories: 7
• Finals: 44
• Top 10: 31
• Chance for Top 10: 62 %

It‘s the 50th anniversary for Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest! Congratulations! Ireland is still the most successful country in the ESC with seven victories, closely followed by Sweden with 6 victories. Additionally, Ireland still has the record of three successive victories 1992, 1993 and 1994 and then another time in 1996. These were the golden years of Ireland in the ESC history.

Unfortunately, the jaunty times of the top positions and victories is over. This is due to several reasons e.g. the language rule was tilt in 1999, so from that year every participating country was able to sing in English or a language of preference. The unique advantage of the English speaking countries has gone. Furthermore the general interest has decreased dramatically thanks to the launch of the Semi Finals in 2004. Now Ireland has to go through the qualification process every year.

In the track record there is of course Johnny Logan, who could win two times as a singer with “What's Another Year” in 1980 and “Hold Me Now” in 1987. He could win another time as a composer of “Why Me” sung by Linda Martin in 1992.

The chances for Ireland to be in the Top10 are still relatively high with 63%. Ireland and the music from Ireland is mostly connect with ethnic music and ballads. There were several attempts over the years to bring modern pop music. Best example here is Jedward who could bring new spirit into the contest with “Lipstick” in 2011 (8th place) and “Waterline” in 2012 (19th place).