From Eurovision to presidency? 1992 Eurovision winner Linda Martin revealed that a certain party approached her to run for Irish presidency. Martin: “Mulling over it.”
In response to reporters’ inquiries, 1992 Eurovision winner from Ireland, Linda Martin, confirmed that she indeed received an offer to run for the country’s presidency and that she is considering the move. She added that she cannot disclose the identity of the party that approached her, but said that she prefers to do it as part of the party rather than running as an independent candidate for presidency. So, will Ireland’s third Eurovision winner actually become president? We’ll find out in the upcoming elections to be held towards the end of 2025!
Political Aspirations of a Eurovision Star
Linda Martin didn’t share much at this stage, probably because she is still considering her steps regarding such a big move, but we are not expected to remain in suspense for long given the fact that the Irish presidential elections will be held towards the end of the year, with the end of the final, time-limited term of the incumbent President Michael Higgins, who has been serving since 2011.
Eurovision Legacy and Political Precedent
Martin won Eurovision in 1992 held in Malmö, Sweden, with her song “Why Me?” written by none other than Johnny Logan, who won Eurovision in 1980 and 1987 for Ireland. Martin herself represented Ireland even before her victory when she finished second in Eurovision 1984 with the song “Terminal 3“, also written by Logan.
Interestingly, Martin is not the first Eurovision winner from Ireland to turn to politics, with emphasis on the presidency. Dana, the 1970 Eurovision winner with the song “All Kinds of Everything“, also ran for the Irish presidency – first in the 1997 elections and again in the 2008 elections – and lost both times. However, Dana was elected to serve as a Member of the European Parliament in 1999 and held this position until 2004.
Ireland in Eurovision 2025
“Laika Party” is the title of the song to be performed by EMMY, who will represent Ireland at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. The song was co-written by the singer along with Erlend Guttulsrud Kristiansen, Henrik Østlund, Larissa Tormey, and Truls Marius Aarra. This marks the first Eurovision entry for the other songwriters. The song is performed in English.
The song tells the story of Laika, the first dog in space, imagining for her eternal life and a perpetual party in the skies. The song portrays Laika as a heroic figure who made an important contribution to humanity by her journey into space. It expresses appreciation and love for the dog sent on an unknown space mission and never returned. It conveys a longing and a wish that she is still alive, roaming space, and enjoying eternal positive experiences. In the chorus, there is a feeling of hope and a wish that Laika continues to live a joyful life in space, participating in an endless party among the stars. The song attempts to give a positive image to the character of Laika and invites the listeners to share the sense of wonder and admiration for human achievements in space exploration, while raising questions about the moral cost of such experiments.
Currently, Ireland is ranked 16th on the betting odds ahead of Eurovision 2025.
Who is EMMY?
Emmy Kristine Guttulsrud Kristiansen, born September 13, 2000, known by the stage name EMMY, is a Norwegian singer-songwriter. In her childhood, her mother sang in a choir and EMMY developed an interest in music from a young age. Her older brother, Erlend, participated in the youth music program “MGPjr,” and in 2015, EMMY also participated in the program with the song “Aiaiaiai“.
In 2021, EMMY participated in the Norwegian national selection “Melodi Grand Prix,” advancing to the finals after competing in the third semi-final with the song “Witch Woods,” but did not make it to the top four. In 2024, EMMY was involved as a creator in the song “Woman Show” performed by Mathilde SPZ, Chris Archer, and Slam Dunk. This marks the first Eurovision entry for the other songwriters. The song is performed in English. Beyond her activities in Norway, EMMY has gained an international fan base through her TikTok account, where she has reached over a million followers.
Source: Irish Independent.
Eurovision 2025: This will be Ireland’s 58th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Ireland joined the competition in 1965 and has won it seven times over the years, holding the record for most wins alongside Sweden. Ireland’s last victory was in Eurovision 1996 with the song “The Voice” performed by singer Eimear Quinn.
