Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999

Ireland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1999 with the song "When You Need Me", written by Bronagh Mullan, and performed by The Mullans. The Irish participating broadcaster, Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ), selected its entry through a national final.

Eurovision Song Contest 1999
Participating broadcaster	Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ)
Country	Ireland
National selection
Selection process	Eurosong 1999
Selection date(s)	7 March 1999
Selected artist(s)	The Mullans
Selected song	"When You Need Me"
Selected songwriter(s)	Bronagh Mullan
Finals performance
Final result	17th, 18 points
Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1998 • 1999 • 2000►

Before Eurovision

National Final

Réalta '99

Réalta was a radio song contest started in 1995 by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta exclusively for Irish songs.^[1] The first edition of the contest was not related to Eurosong, but from 1996 until 1999, the recent winner of Réalta would qualify to Eurosong. Ten songs were chosen to compete in the 5th edition of Réalta and, starting on 2 December 1998, one song was presented each day between 10:30 and 11:00 GMT on the radio show Ar Maidin.^[2] The final of Réalta '99 was broadcast at 10:00 GMT on 18 December 1998 and was hosted by Seán Ó hÉanaigh.^[3] The results of Réalta '99 were decided by a 3-member jury consisting of Carrie Crowley, Eithne Ní Uallacháin, and Cian Ó Ciobháin.^[4] However, the running order and results of Réalta '99 are unknown.

Artist	Song	Songwriter(s)	Place
Brendan Devereaux	"An tíogar ceilteach"	Maoilre de Búrca, Brendan Devereaux	–
Brighdin Carr & Tina McDaid	"Saor"	Brighdin Carr	–
Cathal Ó Catháin	"Is fiú is féidir"	Cathal Ó Catháin	–
Colm Mac Séalaigh	"Eileanóir"	Colm Mac Séalaigh	–
Damian Mac Gabhann	"Is féidir linn"	Damian Mac Gabhann	–
Helen Uí Dhunáird	"Oileán intinne"	Seán Ó Coisdealbha, Helen Uí Dhunáird	–
Máiré Ní Mhaoilbhín	"Glór na dtonn"	Siobhán Ní Mhurchú, Micheál Ó hAllmhuráin	–
Maria NÍ Chumhaill	"Tamall dom"	Éamonn Friel, Dave Duggan	–
Pól Ó Colmáin	"Siúil amach an doras"	Pól Ó Colmáin	–
Proinsias Mac an Tuile	"An bon bon carr"	Proinsias Mac an Tuile, Bríd Ní Mhurchú	1

Eurosong 1999

RTÉ held Eurosong 1999 on 7 March at the RTÉ Television Centre in Dublin, hosted by Pat Kenny. Eight artists and songs were selected to compete which were presented on 9 January 1999 on the RTÉ show Kenny Live.^[5] Regional televoting determined the winner and after the combination of votes, "When You Need Me" performed by the Mullans was selected as the winner.

Final – 7 March 1999^[6][7]

Draw	Artist	Song	Songwriter(s)	Points	Place
1	Nigel Connell	"I Believed"	Danny Sheerin, Des Sheerin	37	6
2	Brendan Keeley	"You Must Have Been Crazy"	Brendan Keeley, Graham Murphy	66	2
3	Barry Doyle	"Run to Me"	Barry Doyle	22	8
4	Tommy Quinn	"You Can't Fight It"	John Fitzpatrick	27	7
5	Maggie Toal and Andy McComish	"I Won't Ever Let You Go"	Stephen Nimmon	57	3
6	Doona	"An bon bon carr"	Proínsias Mac an Tuile, Bríd Ní Mhurchú	48	4
7	Gary O'Shaughnessy	"I'll Be There"	Denise Reynolds	44	5
8	The Mullans	"When You Need Me"	Bronagh Mullan	84	1

Detailed Regional Televoting Results^[7]

Draw	Song	Waterford	Cork	Limerick	Galway	Sligo	Dundalk	Dublin	Total
1	"I Believed"	5	5	5	6	5	6	5	37
2	"You Must Have Been Crazy"	10	10	10	8	8	10	10	66
3	"Run to Me"	3	3	3	3	3	3	4	22
4	"You Can't Fight It"	4	4	4	4	4	4	3	27
5	"I Won't Ever Let You Go"	8	8	8	7	10	8	8	57
6	"An bon bon carr"	6	7	7	10	7	5	6	48
7	"I'll Be There"	7	6	6	5	6	7	7	44
8	"When You Need Me"	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	84

At Eurovision

The Mullans performed 17th in the running order on the evening of the contest, a draw on which three previous Irish entries had won ("What's Another Year?" in 1980, "Why Me?" in 1992, and "The Voice" in 1996). Despite taking an early lead with twelve points from the first voting country Lithuania, "When You Need Me" picked up only six additional points, finishing in 17th place.^[8]

Voting

Points awarded to Ireland[9] Score Country 12 points  Lithuania 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points  United Kingdom 3 points 2 points 1 point  Norway  Turkey

Points awarded by Ireland[9] Score Country 12 points  Slovenia 10 points  Belgium 8 points  Estonia 7 points  Denmark 6 points  Croatia 5 points  Sweden 4 points  Iceland 3 points  Norway 2 points  France 1 point  Netherlands

References

1. Réalta (CD) (in Irish). Casla, Conamara: Raidio na Gaeltachta. 1995. RTE189 CD.
2. Martyn, Oliver (12 November 1998). "Local talent in Irish song contest". Galway Advertiser. p. 20. Archived from the original on 12 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
3. "In tune with Réalta '99". Galway Advertiser. 17 December 1998. p. 20. Archived from the original on 12 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
4. Réalta '99 (CD) (in Irish). Casla, Conamara: Raidio na Gaeltachta. 1995. RTE189 CD.
5. "Ireland 1999". The Eurovision Database. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
6. "Eurosong 99: The Songs". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 12 November 1999. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
7. "Eurosong 99: Results". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 8 October 1999. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
8. "Final of Jerusalem 1999". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
9. "Results of the Final of Jerusalem 1999". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.