Following the Israeli participation confirmation for Eurovision 2027, Charlie McGettigan, Eurovision 1994, demands from RTE to keep the boycott on the contest 

Israel’s official confirmation this month that it will compete at Eurovision 2027 in Bulgaria has reignited the heated public debate in Ireland over the country’s stance toward the Eurovision Song Contest. Leading the renewed calls for a boycott is Charlie McGettigan, who won Eurovision 1994 for Ireland alongside Paul Harrington with “Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids.”

McGettigan has openly urged Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ to maintain its boycott of the contest and not return to the Eurovision stage as long as Israel remains among the participating countries. Speaking to the Irish Sun, the singer insisted that the public broadcaster could not reverse its position.

“There is no chance that RTÉ can turn the ship around and decide they’re going back to Eurovision next year, now that the situation has become even worse,” he said.

“If They Asked Me – I’d Refuse Immediately”

The Irish singer referred to the widely reported case of Dr. Margaret Connolly, sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly, who was arrested alongside other Irish activists during a humanitarian flotilla to the Gaza Strip.

According to McGettigan, the incident makes any Irish return to the contest unimaginable. He argued that participating in Eurovision would contradict Ireland’s long-standing position on human rights issues and also referenced Irish peacekeeping troops serving in Lebanon, claiming they face daily risks because of ongoing regional tensions.

McGettigan also claimed that RTÉ’s decision not to broadcast or participate in Eurovision 2026 passed with relatively little public backlash in Ireland. In his view, it would now be almost impossible to find an Irish artist willing to compete.

“I don’t know a single singer or performer who would agree to sing at Eurovision now. If RTÉ asked Paul Harrington and me to make a comeback, we would refuse completely.”

Criticism of the Voting System

Beyond calling for a boycott, the former Eurovision winner questioned the transparency and credibility of the European Broadcasting Union’s voting system. McGettigan claimed that the public vote could be vulnerable to manipulation or fraud, particularly after Israel recorded an unprecedented run of four consecutive top-five finishes in the overall scoreboard.

His protest has extended beyond public statements. McGettigan previously returned his Eurovision 1994 winner’s trophy as a symbolic gesture against Israel’s continued participation in the contest.

McGettigan joins other prominent voices within Ireland’s Eurovision community, including Bambie Thug, who represented Ireland at Eurovision 2024, and Eurovision winner Johnny Logan, both of whom supported Ireland’s withdrawal from Eurovision 2026.

While Ireland has chosen to remain away from the Eurovision stage, Israel continues to cement its status as one of the contest’s strongest and most popular countries among viewers.

Whether Ireland will eventually reconsider its position and return to Eurovision remains to be seen.

Ireland in Eurovision 2025

“Laika Party” is the name of the song performed by singer EMMY, who represented Ireland in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2025 held in Basel, Switzerland. Ireland failed to qualify for the Grand Final, finishing 13th out of 16 with just 28 points.

Over the past five years, Ireland has reached the Grand Final only once.

Eurovision 2025: This was Ireland’s 58th participation in the contest. The country joined Eurovision in 1965 and is tied with Sweden for the most wins, with seven victories. Ireland’s most recent win came in 1996 with the song “The Voice”, performed by singer Eimear Quinn.