Collins and Pearse battle it out with Bono and Ronan

RTÉ’s latest online offering is a bit like the Eurovision: a cynical mix of talent and trash where the thrill is all in the voting.

And just like the Eurovision, the winner of RTÉ’s Ireland’s Greatest Person competition will be decided on the basis of ability to vote en bloc rather than any obvious achievement.

This public competition to decide from a shortlist of 40 who deserves the title of ‘Ireland’s greatest’ has raised as many eyebrows as voices of protest at the inclusion of some and omission of others.