Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980

Eurovision Song Contest 1980
Country Ireland
National selection
Selection processNational final
Selection date(s)9 March 1980
Selected entrantJohnny Logan
Selected song"What's Another Year"
Selected songwriter(s)Shay Healy
Finals performance
Final result1st, 143 points
Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1979 • 1980 • 1981►

Ireland entered the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, sending Johnny Logan to the contest with the song "What's Another Year", written by Shay Healy.

Before Eurovision

National final

The Irish national final to select the Irish representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, was held on 9 March 1980 at the RTÉ Studios in Dublin and was hosted by Larry Gogan. It was organised by the Irish broadcaster of the contest Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ).

Eight songs were performed live to the Irish viewers and listeners, with the winning song being decided by 10 regional juries across the country. The winner went on to win the Eurovision Song Contest in The Hague, which gave Ireland its second victory, ten years after its first.

Draw Artist Song Points Place
1 Roy Taylor and Karen Black "Lovin' Won't Let You Down" 13 3
2 The Straw Hat and Garter Company "Take Me Back Again" 2 8
3 Eileen Reid "The Saddest Show on Earth" 10 4
4 Charlie Chapman and The Miami "You're So Cheeky" 5 5
5 Johnny Logan "What's Another Year" 40 1
6 The Dajacs "You Have" 4 7
7 Peter Beckett "Stepping Stones" 21 2
8 Romance "Love Is All There Is" 5 5
Detailed Regional Jury Votes
Draw Song Longford Kenmare Claremorris Cork Sligo Wexford Donegal Limerick Dublin Thurles Total
1 "Lovin' Won't Let You Down" 1 1 2 1 5 3 13
2 "Take Me Back Again" 1 1 2
3 "The Saddest Show on Earth" 2 2 3 1 2 10
4 "You're So Cheeky" 2 3 5
5 "What's Another Year" 2 3 1 8 6 10 4 1 3 2 40
6 "You Have" 1 2 1 4
7 "Stepping Stones" 5 5 4 2 5 21
8 "Love Is All There Is" 1 1 1 2 5

At Eurovision

Johnny Logan at the Eurovision Song Contest 1980

The Eurovision Song Contest 1980 was held at the Congresgebouw in The Hague, Netherlands. Ireland performed 17th on the night of the contest, following France and preceding Spain. Logan received 143 points for his performance, winning the contest for Ireland.[1]

Voting

Points awarded to Ireland[2]
Score Country
12 points
10 points  Austria
8 points
7 points
6 points  Netherlands
5 points  Portugal
4 points
3 points
2 points
1 point  Italy
Points awarded by Ireland[2]
Score Country
12 points   Switzerland
10 points  Austria
8 points  Luxembourg
7 points  Portugal
6 points  United Kingdom
5 points  Germany
4 points  Greece
3 points  France
2 points  Italy
1 point  Netherlands

Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest

Among "What's Another Year"'s future honours as a Eurovision evergreen was its inclusion as one of the fourteen competing songs in Congratulations, Eurovision's fiftieth anniversary contest special. It was one of two Irish entries competing to be named the best Eurovision entry of all time, the other being Logan's subsequent winner, "Hold Me Now.". The song was performed second on the night, following the United Kingdom's Cliff Richard with "Congratulations" and preceding Israel's Dana International with "Diva." Unlike "Hold Me Now," "What's Another Year" failed to make it past the first round, finishing 12th with 74 points.[3]

Voting

Points awarded to "What's Another Year" (Round 1)[3]
Score Country
12 points
10 points
8 points  Ireland
7 points
6 points
5 points  Denmark
4 points
3 points
2 points
1 point

References

  1. ^ "Final of The Hague 1980". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Results of the Final of The Hague 1980". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Congratulations: Results from the voting (Round 1)" (PDF). Eurovision Song Contest. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 May 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2021.

External links

  • Irish National Final 1980 page
  • v
  • t
  • e
ParticipationArtistsSongs
  • "22"
  • "All Kinds of Everything"
  • "Born to Sing"
  • "Ceol an Ghrá"
  • "Chance of a Lifetime"
  • "Come Back to Stay"
  • "Could It Be That I'm in Love"
  • "Cross Your Heart"
  • "Do I Dream"
  • "Doomsday Blue"
  • "Dreamin'"
  • "Dying to Try"
  • "Et Cetera"
  • "Every Song Is a Cry for Love"
  • "Happy Man"
  • "Heartbeat"
  • "Here Today Gone Tomorrow"
  • "Hold Me Now"
  • "Horoscopes"
  • "If I Could Choose"
  • "If My World Stopped Turning"
  • "In Your Eyes"
  • "Irelande Douze Pointe"
  • "Is Always Over Now?"
  • "It's for You"
  • "It's Nice to Be in Love Again"
  • "Lipstick"
  • "Love?"
  • "Maps"
  • "Millennium of Love"
  • "Mysterious Woman"
  • "One Day Love"
  • "Only Love Survives"
  • "Playing with Numbers"
  • "The Real Me"
  • "Rock 'n' Roll Kids"
  • "Somewhere in Europe"
  • "Story of My Life"
  • "Sunlight"
  • "Take Him Home"
  • "Terminal 3"
  • "That's Rich"
  • "That's What Friends Are For"
  • "They Can't Stop the Spring"
  • "Together"
  • "The Voice"
  • "The Wages of Love"
  • "Wait Until the Weekend Comes"
  • "Walking the Streets in the Rain"
  • "Waterline"
  • "We Are One"
  • "We've Got the World"
  • "What's Another Year"
  • "When"
  • "When You Need Me"
  • "Why Me?"
  • "Without Your Love"
  • "You Can Count On Me"
  • Note: Entries scored out signify where Ireland did not compete
  • v
  • t
  • e
Countries
Artists
Songs
  • v
  • t
  • e
Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest
Represented years
Represented countries
Represented entries
Advanced to the second round
Eliminated in the first round
Represented artists
Advanced to the second round
Eliminated in the first round
Represented song
Advanced to the second round
Eliminated in the first round