Voting farce as Doran in Eurovision doldrums

THERE have been calls for an overhaul of the Eurovision Song Contest voting system after one of Ireland’s worst results ever.

Former winner Lynda Martin is one of a growing number of commentators who believes countries are now more concerned with politics than selecting the best song.

Ukraine won the coveted title after a glitzy show on Saturday night, with Ireland’s Chris Doran finishing second last on just seven points.

“We have to qualify next year. RTÉ is going to have to sit down and rethink what we are going to send. It will have to be a big production and it will cost a lot of money. The Eurovision has gotten far too big. I don’t know how we can compete with countries who vote so politically,” said Ms Martin.

Larry Gogan, commentating for RTÉ radio, went a step further: “The voting was a farce. Televoting is giving the public a right to choose a song and has opened up the competition, as opposed to having a jury of ten people. But people are not voting for the songs, they are voting for their neighbours. Even our sole vote showed this.”

While nobody close to Chris Doran truly fancied Ireland’s chances, given the stiff competition, nobody anticipated it would be our second worst points rating ever. Only Britain voted for us, with 34 other countries failing to give us a single point.

Not since Gary O’Shaughnessy failed to score a single point in the 2001 final did Ireland rank so poorly.

Ireland faces a semi-final next year before being guaranteed a place in the final in the Ukraine. But all closely associated with the Waterford singer admitted it wasn’t a reflection on Chris Doran’s superb performance.

“I gave it my best shot,” said a shattered Doran.

He could barely speak and the tears didn’t seem too far away.

“I was so proud to represent Ireland and Waterford. I am so grateful for all the support I got and couldn’t have wished for better. It’s been an incredible journey from You’re A Star. I will always be proud that I represented Ireland in the Eurovision.

“I still think it’s a fabulous song. Obviously I’d love to have had higher points, but it was out of my control and I hope people will appreciate that I did my best,” he said.