June 6, 2010 47

BACK ON SONG IN 2011 CONTEST

AND DON’TS
SAT NAV TO
STAMP OUT
GORSE FIRES
KERRY County Council is
to begin using satellite
GPS systems to help them
identify the origin and
course of gorse fires.
Gorse fires have cost the
Council €500,000 so far
this year and the number
and Portugal have never won, but of gorse-related fires had

must get boot if we’re ever to win Eurovision they continue to chase victory.
We do need a new approach, howev-
er – and the first thing to go has to be
the format of using the Late Late
Show viewing audience to choose the
reached over 400 by the
end of April.
Fire personnel will be
using a hand-held GPS
system which can tap into
sounding tune sung by rock group
Manga. winning song. satellites. The Council will
Eurovision is changing. Gimmicks and The audience demographic is not impose a charge on the
joke entries do not go down well with the the same as the Eurovision. Quite sim- owners of property, or the
juries. Some people think that there is a ply, they are too old and out of touch. beneficial occupiers, to
Eurovision formula but the last few Nor do we need a ‘panel of experts’ recoup the cost of fire
years tell us there isn’t anymore. to express an opinion on the songs. brigade call-outs. Under
Last year’s winner for Norway, We never had one in the years when the Wildlife Act, it is
‘Fairytale’, sung by Alexander Rybak, we won the contest. illegal to burn gorse
was a European hit, reaching number The search for an entry should take between March 1 and
one in many countries and number place much earlier than it currently August 31.
does to stimulate interest in the com-
two in the Irish charts.
This year’s winner was already a hit
in Germany and Switzerland, and is
petition, and ways need to be found to
get younger composers involved, and STATUE HAS
FLYING THE FLAG: Peter Walsh poses with Niamh Kavangh at last week’s song contest
climbing the charts now in many
European countries. It means that
there will be a lot more record compa-
get different styles on board.
Emphasis WRITE STUFF
televote and 50 per cent juries. aged to qualify since the semi-final
Each country has a jury made up of system was introduced in 2004.
ny interest in the contest and that can
only be a good thing for the future.
But what about Ireland?
I would also increase the number of
songs in the final back to the eight we
used to have.
FOR SQUARE
THE famous statue of one
five music professionals, and one cri- Not only did they manage to qualify Our last win is a distant memory The emphasis has to be on the song, of Ireland top writers is to
teria they must judge on is whether this year but they also WON their now, when Eimear Quinn won in 1996 though, not on the singer, which is make a return to Eyre
the song can be a commercial hit. semi-final with the simple ballad ‘Me with Brendan Graham’s ‘The Voice’. where we went wrong in the ‘You’re a
My concern all along was that and My Guitar’ sung by Tom Dice. So, Star’ days. We should also try and get Square. A replica of the
We haven’t had a top-five placing bust of Pádraic Ó Conaire
Niamh’s performance would be over- if the song is good and strikes a chord, since 1997. So, should we consider record companies on board, as this
shadowed by Greece – and I think it will succeed. withdrawing? might inject some energy. is to return to Eyre Square
that is what happened. I do not think However, that does not mean at least six years after city
There were also omens in the semi-
Clue Jedward should represent us next council promised it would.
that we should,
final voting that we were unaware of Germany won the contest with the as it would be year, as that would make Dustin’s The much-loved iconic
at the time. We finished joint 9th in ‘Satellite’ sung by Lena Meyer- like throwing 2008 effort seem credible! Galway statue was
our semi-final, just five points ahead Landrut (right). There is no way this our toys out of All of this is a tall order, but I feel removed during the
of Sweden. win can be attributed to the advent the pram. The we need to adapt as the Eurovision renovation of the Square
The UK was able to vote in our semi of bloc voting either, as Germany Netherlands Song Contest is not the beast we were after being there for over
this year and they awarded us 10 has failed to finish above 14th place have not won able to tame in the nineties. It has 70 years and was then
points, without which we would have since 2005. the contest evolved and we need to do the same. unveiled as a centrepiece
finished behind Sweden and not qual- But the clue to what may be since 1975, After our results in the last few years,
going on may be in the runner-up in the Galway City
ified for the final at all. France since what have we got to lose?
We cannot blame political voting. song for Turkey, ‘We could be the You can read Peter’s blog an Museum. However, this
1977, Spain
Belgium, for example, has never man- same’, which was another modern- since 1969 www.allkindsofeverything.ie week’s meeting of Galway
City Council was told that
a replica statue would be
put there in its place.

E OF MIN
AC

PE

D
Exclusive
ASH
Guarantee*

AS P

GE
We will reschedule your
holiday if you are unable

SUMMER HOLIDAY SPECIALS - FUN FOR EVERYONE!

KA
to travel
RT C
A
*Terms and Conditions apply

O F O U R PA

Superb Hotel &

NICKHOTEL
Celebrate your Waterpark SAVE 45% Mexico 5 Star
All Inclusive
Best Days Ever! all in one! on Disney Cruise 7 Night stay
10 Nights stay at 7 Nights stay at the Call to Book Cancun Palace
Nickeloden Family NEW 4 Star Coco Key Resort 10 Night Med Fly/Cruise Resort for the Family
suites. 2 bedroom incl return flights
incl return flights IDrive incl return flights Sail ex Barcelona onboard
Disney Magic RECEIVE $1500 TO SPEND
★★ INCLUDES 1 FREE NIGHT ★★ INCLUDES 7 DAY WATERPARK AND
• Minutes away from Walt UNIVERSAL TICKETS • Full Board and Entertainment in Resort with every
INCL TAX • Waterpark onsite
INCL TAX including special Moments with INCL TAX booking INCL TAX
Disney Resort Orlando’s action-
• FREE 7 day universal park ticket PP FROM
PP FROM Disney Characters PP FROM PP FROM
packed family resort • Luxury Accommodation*

€827
• Full Filled activities onboard for

875
• Transportation to Theme Parks • All Inclusive- All Meals,

1015 1299
• Meet Nickelodeon characters-
all the family Drinks, Watersports (non

€
SpongeBob, Dora, Cosmo & • Daily Housekeeping
the Gang
• Slide and splash waterparks
• Great location for shopping
& dining
• Deck Parties including
fireworks € motorized), Taxes, Tips, 24hr
room service , Entertainment €
PEAKTIME
Travel Aug 2010. Family 2 + 3. Ref 628527 SUMMER Travel Aug 2010. Family 2 + 2. Ref 628540. PEAKTIME
PRICE SUMMER PRICE Travel 8 Sep 2010. Famliy 2+1. Ref 627924 Travel Nov 2010. Family 2 + 2. Ref 628676.

ALL offers are ONLINE BOOKING OFFERS (except where indicated by ‘Call to Book’)

Just off
Grafton St
Dublin 2
americanholidays.com
DUBLIN 01 433 1067 • BELFAST 02890 511800 • CORK 021 236 4636
18-19 DUKE ST
DUBLIN
FOR YOUR FREE BROCHURE
CALL OUR HOTLINE
01 6733875
Prices per person& include return flights, airport taxes & accommodation as stated. Terms and conditions apply. Subject to availability. Child must be 2- 11yrs. Insurance extra. Online booking offers-subject to terms. Cruise prices are Call to book offers & include
Return Flights ex Dublin, Full Board on Cruise and all Taxes. Extras are Gratuities, Travel Insurance and cabin upgrades. *Mexico Offer - Book Min 7nts. American Holidays is fully licensed and bonded by Commission for Aviation Regulation (TO 029).