Ireland’s Eurovision Co-Head of Delegation thinks the possibility of a standalone national selection for his country is closer than it ever has been. 

Michael Kealy has long wished for Ireland’s Eurovision preselection to be a one-off RTÉ production, but it hasn’t become a reality under his tenure. 

Click to read this story at a glance…

• Ireland’s Eurovision Co-Head of Delegation, Michael Kealy, has expressed optimism about a standalone national selection for Eurosong, potentially starting in 2026, amid improved financial conditions at RTÉ
• The 2025 Eurosong will continue to be hosted on The Late Late Show
• Kealy is set to step back after more than 15 years, with Clare Hughes joining as Co-Head of Delegation, marking the start of a succession plan

In recent years, Eurosong has been hosted within The Late Late Show, and 2025 will see the same setup continue. 

Speaking exclusively to The Euro Trip, Kealy said: “It’s still going to be Eurosong (2025) on The Late Late Show, I’m afraid.” 

“RTÉ’s financial picture has gotten a little better since last year. We had some very well publicised difficulties last summer. 

“There was a determined effort by the government here to finally put our financial footing on a sounder base, and I believe that’s happened.” 

RTÉ became embroiled in a scandal in June 2023 when it disclosed previously unknown financial arrangements between itself and the former presenter of The Late Late Show Ryan Tubridy. 

Along with the admission of the existence of barter accounts and the disclosure of international trips costing more than €100,000, the other headline of the scandal was the revelation that RTÉ paid €345,000 more than what had been previously disclosed to Tubridy between 2017 and 2022. 

Dee Forbes, the former Director General of the broadcaster, was asked to resign by the RTÉ board. After initially refusing, she was suspended and eventually resigned days later. 

Kealy told The Euro Trip back in January that there was “a fair chance” Ireland could’ve had a standalone selection show in 2024, but the financial scandal halted that plan. 

On what it would take for a non-Late Late Show affiliated preselection to happen, Kealy said: “It’s just a matter of trying to get as big a slice of that pie as possible for entertainment, but then getting part of that slice devoted to a standalone Eurosong show, whatever form that may take.” 

“Obviously that won’t happen in 2025. I would be hopeful that 2026 is the year that we get to do that, but I think it’s on the cards, and I just hope that it is sooner rather than later. 

“I’m more hopeful now than I have been in the past.” 

Although the possibility of Eurosong being a freestanding show in 2026, Kealy may not be at the helm to oversee it. 

Last month, television producer Clare Hughes joined Kealy on RTÉ’s Eurovision team, with the pair both taking the title Co-Head of Delegation. 

This is the beginning of a succession plan which will eventually see Kealy step away from the broadcaster’s Eurovision involvement after more than 15 years on-and-off. 

“We’ll see what happens after that [2025]. It may be a good opportunity for me to pass the baton to the new delegation. 

“It’s such a privilege to work on Eurovision, but I feel a bit guilty doing it all myself. 

“Clare is a big Eurovision fan which certainly helps, but I think she will be a great addition to Team Ireland, and definitely a great addition to me in the run-up to Basel in Switzerland next year. 

“I only hope that whoever succeeds me – whether it’s Clare or someone else – gets to enjoy a bit more success than I have had over the years I’ve been involved.”