Good luck Jedward

Pop duo Jedward are two very young men, twins, whose infectious enthusiasm has helped to make them fabulously successful. They have not only qualified for the final of tonight’s Eurovision Song Contest, but have established themselves among the favourites to win the competition.

Of course, there are those cynics who decry them for having little talent, but talent is in the eye of the beholder.

The German crowd in Dusseldorf gave them a rapturous reception on the night of the semi-final.

Their performance should be judged on the extent of the entertainment that they provide for people, and in this regard they have had a phenomenal success, especially for people so young. This is as much a testament to their talent as to the poor judgment of their cynical critics.

Maybe their hairstyle is a gimmick and they sometimes tend to be rather naively outspoken, but then the older generation will remember a young group who were ridiculed for their hairstyle, lack of talent, and unconventional ideas in the early 1960s. The Beatles unquestionably became one of the most successful entertainment groups ever, and they revolutionised men’s hairstyles.

Jedward have managed to revive what has been a flagging Irish interest in the Eurovision contest. They have done this country proud, and we wish them all the best in tonight’s final.