RTÉ has announced its call-out for songs that could represent Ireland in The Eurovision Song Contest in 2015.
The public are invited to submit entries which include a song, performer(s) and any suggested performance or staging details. The entries will then be considered and shortlisted by an initial judging panel to be selected by RTÉ.
The Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Vienna, Austria, next May and will celebrate its 60th year, is the largest entertainment show in the world and consistently one of the most popular annual television events both in Ireland and across Europe.
As usual, Ireland will be drawn in one of the two semi-finals which will take place on May 19 and 21. Qualifying acts from each semi-final will then compete in the Grand Final on May 23.
Previously RTÉ had operated a 'mentor' system whereby music and entertainment professionals nominated by RTÉ were given the opportunity to select a song and an act which they felt had the potential to succeed at Eurovision. RTÉ has reviewed the selection procedure for this year's contest and has decided to make some important changes to the process.
Michael Kealy, Executive Producer of Eurovision, said: "Ireland has a track record at Eurovision which is second to none but finding a song and an artist who can perform at the biggest entertainment show in the world is not an easy task. This year we have decided to have an open selection process for Eurosong 2015 and we want to hear from the very best songwriters and performers who believe they have what it takes to compete at the highest level in Vienna next May."
Entries, which should be no longer than three minutes long, should be submitted on CD or on USB key as an MP3 or WAV file to Eurosong 2015, RTÉ Entertainment, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. The closing date for entries will be at 5pm on October 31, 2014. Go to www.rte.ie/eurovision for full details, plus terms and conditions.
