Eurosong 2009
It was unknown for some time how Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ), the Irish broadcaster would select the Irish entry for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. RTÉ had had plans to have a large-scale national final like that of last year's contest. However the current financial situation in Ireland have made this impossible, and it was debatable whether a national final would be held at all, with an internal selection by RTÉ to be held instead. Despite this, RTÉ were set to have a national final for their selection, which would be similar to that seen in 2006 and 2007, when the national final was held as part of popular entertainment show The Late Late Show. The provisional date was set at 20 February 2009.
Although a national final was to be planned, it was rumoured that RTÉ were in the middle of talks with three-time former winner Johnny Logan. It had been rumoured that, in exchange for his own television show, Logan would return to Eurovision and represent Ireland at the 2009 contest in Moscow. Logan had previously said that he would have represented Ireland at the 2007 contest, however a deal between Logan and RTÉ was not reached at that time. Eoghan Quigg, who came third in the 2008 series of The X Factor, has also stated that he would like to represent Ireland at Eurovision.
RTÉ officially confirmed that a national final, called Eurosong 2009, would be held to choose the Irish representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, and that no internal selection would be held. Like in 2006 and 2007, this was to be held on 20 February on a special edition of The Late Late Show.
Pat Kenny, host of The Late Late Show and of Eurosong 2009, revealed that six acts will compete in the contest, with the winner being decided by a mixture of televoting and the votes of regional juries from around Ireland. A jury selected six competing acts from those sent into RTÉ, which will be headed by former Eurovision winner Linda Martin. Over 300 entries were received by RTÉ before the deadline for entries on 2 February.
Read more about this topic: Ireland In The Eurovision Song Contest 2009