Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE ONGOING EUROPEAN financial crisis has taken an unlikely toll – forcing two countries to pull out of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
Portugal has followed the lead of Poland by reportedly indicating it will not send an entry to next year’s content in Malmo.
Poland had withdrawn from last year’s contest – having finished last in its semi-final when it last participated in 2011 – and has confirmed it will not be participating when the show returns to Sweden next year.
However, it is now reported that Portugal’s national broadcaster RTP has had to pull out – though its enthusiasm for entering in 2013 was probably tempered having come second-last in Poland’s 2011 semi, and only 13th in its semi-final in Azerbaijan this year.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has refused to confirm the withdrawal of either country for the time being, however – though neither country features in a provisional calendar of national heats listed on EBU’s website.
Poland’s withdrawal last year was on the basis that the national broadcaster, TVP, was otherwise occupied concentrating on its role as a host broadcaster for the UEFA Euro 2012 championships held in Poland and the Ukraine, as well as the costs of covering the 2012 Olympics in London.
The withdrawal of Portugal from the contest may also prove to hamper any Irish hopes of regaining the Eurovision crown it last won in 1996 – Ireland ranks fifth among the countries that Portuguese juries have preferred in records beginning from 1975.
The UK – which is guaranteed entry into the final each year, because of the BBC’s financial contributions to the EBU – will fare even worse, however: UK entries have proven the most popular since 1975.
Neither Ireland nor the UK feature among Poland’s most regular points donors – though since televoting was introduced in 2004, Ireland has been the most generous country to Poland in terms of votes.
Ireland will remain in the contest for 2013 at least; earlier this month RTÉ announced its list of five mentors who will identify acts to participate in Ireland’s Eurosong 2013 series.
The five mentors will be broadcaster Mairead Farrell, Eurovision-winning songwriter Shay Healy, DJ Mark McCabe, songwriter Niall Mooney, and stage producer Stuart O’Connor.
Sorry seems to be the hardest word goes the song,not in this kip though.
I find it hard to believe that there are still people in Galway Council that were active in the 70s-late 90s. Anybody in an institution that was involved with the deaths and unlawful dumping of babies can apologise away. If they were not involved with this institution then the apologies are empty. Where are those guilty of these atrocities? Those that were there and turned a blind eye? Hiding away, letting others apologise…
@Oliver Walker: I recently discovered that Politicians that are around since 1981 in Galway are still active today and include Mayors and Former TDS .
@Aine Healy: What do you mean ‘do your research’?… Have you seen the report? Have you read the article? Babies remains were dumped in septic tanks…
Big leap from that to abortion.
@Oliver Walker: please see my above reply in answer to your questions.
So, did you vote yes to legalising abortion that is responsible for the deaths of 7000 “invisible and voiceless” pre born human beings it it’s first year alone? Yes?
@Aine Healy: hold up, if they weren’t ‘dumped’ in there how do you think they got there? Crawled in themselves and died?
@Helen Downey: you should also do your research Helen. No babies were “dumped” in a “septic tank” by “the nuns” or anyone else. Notwithstanding the official report ( which I suggest that you actually read), where in the article above, does it state that babies were “dumped” in a “septic tank”?
It would appear that you are letting your ideological narrative get on the way of facts.
How about you Helen? Did your vote yes to the legalization of abortion which is responsible for the deaths of over 7000 Irish babies in its first year alone, most of whom actually did end up in the sewage system unlike the “Tuam babies” who did not?
@Aine Healy: I consider babies in a sewage system dumped. How else did they get there? You haven’t answered that I see.
@Helen Downey: you really should do your own homework rather than expecting others to do it for you. Why so lazy?
Again, your “consideration” does not facts make, although I acknowledge your considered opinion that aborted babies (those who are not incinerated) who end up in the sewage system as being “dumped”.
There is no written or oral documentation that evidences that babies or children who died in Tuam were “dumped” in a “septic tank” by “the nuns” or indeed that they were “killed” by “the nuns”.
Overwhelming evidence, with detailed references, shows that coffins and shrouds were used for babies who died in the Tuam mother and baby home. The babies were placed in a crypt. Crypts are very common in Ireland. Catherine Corless herself, interviewed two carpenters families who spoke to her about how their relatives built coffins for the babies. Nor were there any pipes going to or out the structure making the claim that the remains were in a septic tank utterly ridiculous. Old maps show a cess poll ( which is different to a septic tank) within the area and Corless put two and two together, made five, of which pro abortion advocates and Catholic bigots were only to delighted to fly the flag for.
All of the babies and children’s names, ages, places of birth and causes of death (tb, measles, flu, whooping cough amongst other illnesses) were recorded.
It was in fact county council who reduced the size of the original graveyard in order to build an access road to houses that had been built on the site and also to provide a playground. They reinterred the remains of babies and children that they had dug up in the structure (known as an ossuary). “The nuns” were well gone according to the evidence that shows the structure and re interment to have occurred after 1960’s.
Again, research on your part would have led you to the facts, but again it appears that you have little interest in the truth of the matter. How tragic is that?
@Aine Healy: the remains were found in a septic tank. Disused or not it is a septic tank. Not a grave.
Ah well, that’s ok then. No worries!
@Joecantdance: considering that the majority of the members of the council weren’t even born during the majority of the time this abuse was going on, what do you really expect them to do?
Not good enough, want to hear from the county manager at the time and to hear what his reasoning behind his lack of knowledge empathy of the women , not from the present council offering a hollow apology
They will be even more sorry when sued
No good. Not accepted. No point in this. Most of not all of this on the county council has nothing to do with it.
Are their politicians and senior civil servants getting a state funded pension for the work they did years ago. Health Boards, social workers among others.
have your say