Celebrity chef Donal Skehan has called on the Eurosong format to be scrapped, as he praised RTE for asking song contest bosses for a breakdown of our vote.
Drama unfolded earlier this month after Ireland’s hopeful, Norwegian singer Emmy, failed to qualify in this year’s song contest with Laika Party, as Austrian entry JJ eventually won performing Wasted Love.
The results prompted calls by RTE to investigate the voting breakdown by the EBU.
Speaking on the first day of Bord Bia Bloom yesterday, Donal – who took part in the 2008 Eurosong contest to find Ireland’s entry – described Emmy not making it to the final as "tough", saying RTE are right to ask for the voting breakdown.
Donal said: "Oh, it was tough. And I feel for Emmy, because I think she represented us really well.
"But you know, when we were judging on the night, I always kind of thought it was one of those songs, it was going to go either way, and we were just unlucky."
The telly chef added: "Look, Ireland needs to do something different. Ireland needs to do something special.
"And it needs to be something that comes from the artists themselves, a real creative look at what it’s going to be.
"And you have to remember that it’s not just the Eurosong stage in Ireland, it’s a stage in front of 250 million people that they have to perform on.
"So it really has to be thought the whole way through.
"I said it on the night [of Eurosong]. I mean, I think you look around Europe and you see Sweden has Melody Festival, and Finland has this huge stadium show with four nights across, you know, a couple of months and they create really strong entries because of that.
"And also the entry, the competitors get the opportunity to perform on that level and that stage that is similar to Eurovision. So I think we do need to step it up."
Donal hit the headlines earlier this year when Eurosong hopeful Samantha Mumba questioned his credentials to judge other artists.
He revealed there has been "no communication at all" with the Gotta Tell You singer.
He said: "I don’t know if I’d be asked [back to Eurosong]. But, as I said, in some way the format itself just needs to change, you know.
"And I think it is hard for people to be judged on the night.
"And I think, in essence, what we want to see as a format is something that you put people forward and the entry stands alone."
He praised RTE for looking for the voting breakdown of Eurovision last week, saying: "Everyone who was watching was a bit confused about what was going on, particularly with the mood and the feeling of what most Irish people feel."
President Michael D Higgins opened the first rain-soaked day of the five-day event in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, and called on more support for local producers.
During his 20-minute speech, he received a round of applause after passionately telling people that "harmful retail practices" are damaging local producers.
The President said: "May I also take a moment to add my voice in support of those commercial producers who have stayed with the production of vegetables, those who labour diligently and all too often without due recognition or remuneration.
"Their numbers, sadly, have dwindled to fewer than 100.
"These men and women are facing untenable pressures, not least the harmful retail practices that result in produce being sold as 'loss leaders' below the cost of production.
"This is a disgrace. This cannot continue. If we are serious about food security, about fairness, sincere in our commitment to sustainability, we must support our shrinking community of producers who play a vital role in sustainable food production." Mr Higgins also spoke about the impact of climate change and biodiversity, saying: "Bloom’s ongoing success is undoubtedly a reflection too of our welcome, albeit late, collective acknowledgment across society that we live on a fragile planet, one that is facing catastrophic climate change and ecological breakdown.
"We are living, as we all know, in an era of profound environmental challenges, one that is defined by shared interacting crises.
"The world’s leading climate scientists have told us, with increasing urgency, that the planet we share is in peril. Biodiversity loss and the accelerating and devastating consequences of a warming world are no longer projections, they are now our lived experience."
He added: "The impacts of climate change in Ireland are impacts with which we are all familiar. They are reflected by not only the threat but the experience of the consequences of rising sea levels, and also, of course, by an increased frequency and severity of weather events such as high-impact storms, droughts and floods.
"Too many of us will have experienced the dreadful consequences of Storm Eowyn at the end of January.
"May I take this opportunity to thank again all those who worked to address the severe consequences, including all of the first-responders, for their valiant efforts.
"We have to make ourselves aware of the imbalance between those who are carrying the consequences of a warming Earth and those who contributed to where we find ourselves in terms of the climate change which has been provoked."
He then visited the show gardens and stopped by at Nature’s Symphony: Celebrating Organic Growth.
The garden highlights Ireland’s commitment to advancing its organic agriculture sector and is also closely guarded by Macnas Con Mor, the artwork which the President referenced in his speech earlier that day.
He said: "I am deeply honoured that the garden includes a reference to my own long-standing support for organic food production, sustainability, and the arts.
"The presence of Con Mor, the gentle eco-conscious giant from the West of Ireland, is a particular delight. Con Mor, a protector of birds, lover of trees, symbol of ancestral wisdom, reminds us of the myths and stories that connect us to our landscapes, and that continue to inspire new generations of guardians of the Earth."
Taoiseach Micheal Martin visited a number of gardens and met with food producers at Bloom.
Elsewhere, Repak’s Most Sorted Garden, designed by James Purdy, won Gold and Best in Category in the prestigious Large Garden category.
Created to engage the public in the future of recycling, the Most Sorted Garden serves as an example that waste is not an inevitability, but a challenge that can be solved through smart design and sustainable thinking.
James said: "This garden is about showing that sustainability doesn’t mean compromise, it can be beautiful, functional, and thought-provoking. I’m grateful to Repak for the opportunity to tell this story and for supporting a vision where every element is intentional, regenerative, and truly circular."
Speaking about the win, Repak chief Zoe Kavanagh said: "We are incredibly proud of this achievement. James Purdy has brought Repak’s vision to life with creativity and conviction.
"The Most Sorted Garden embodies the circular economy by proving that with considered design, we can eliminate waste and give materials a second life."
She added: "This award is a testament to the importance of sustainability and innovation in shaping a greener future for Ireland."
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
