Jump to content

Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ireland in the
Eurovision Song Contest 1980
Eurovision Song Contest 1980
Participating broadcasterRadio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ)
Country Ireland
Selection processNational Song Contest
Selection date9 March 1980
Competing entry
Song"What's Another Year"
ArtistJohnny Logan
SongwriterShay Healy
Placement
Final result1st, 143 points
Participation chronology
◄1979 • 1980 • 1981►

Ireland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 with the song "What's Another Year", written by Shay Healy, and performed by Johnny Logan. The Irish participating broadcaster, Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ), selected its entry through a national final. The entry eventually won the Eurovision Song Contest.

Before Eurovision

[edit]

National final

[edit]

Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ) held the sixteenth edition of the National Song Contest on 9 March 1980 at its studios in Dublin, hosted by Larry Gogan. Eight songs were performed live to the Irish viewers and listeners, with the winning song being decided by 10 regional juries across the country.[1]

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
 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

[edit]
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.[2] This was Ireland's second victory, ten years after its first in 1970.[3]

Voting

[edit]

Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest

[edit]
Main article: 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.[5]

Voting

[edit]
Points awarded to "What's Another Year" (Round 1)[5]
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

[edit]
  1. ^ "Johnny Logan Wins National Song Contest (1980)". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Final of The Hague 1980". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Amsterdam 1970". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ireland_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest_1980&oldid=1294605656"