Doran gets ‘fantastic response’ at Istanbul rehearsals

IRELAND’S Eurovision hopefuls are already turning heads in Istanbul and the reception Chris Doran and his backing group, Final Four, has been phenomenal.

The lads took to the stage for their first rehearsal late on Sunday evening and the response from the media and the other artists gathered in the Abdi Ipekci Stadium was incredible, said RTE's Dympna Clerkin.

"Chris got a fantastic response during the rehearsal from the fans and technical crews. The comments at the press conference afterwards were also very favourable."

And while it will be a few days yet before the Irish contingent can rate their chances they need to hear all the other songs on stage first hopes are now high that an Irish win could well be on the cards.

As the temperature continues to rise in Istanbul and the excitement builds ahead of Saturday night's final, it has emerged that three times Eurovision winner, Johnny Logan, will present the result of Ireland's tele-vote on Saturday night. Logan won the competition twice as a singer and once as a composer.

Ireland has won the song contest seven times and the Irish delegation was quick yesterday to deny claims that success "comes in waves".

Supporters are hopeful that Saturday night might be an eighth win and they rejected any correlation between tele-voting and less points for the country.

Chris commended the Eurostar competition as a way of selecting the entry saying: "It was a great experience to be able to sing such a wide variety of different music genres, from Irish songs to the Beatles."

Around 600 Irish fans are gearing up to wing their way to Istanbul.

A handful of seats remain available at €649 each from Strand Travel Worldchoice in Waterford city.