Ireland fails to make Eurovision 2022 finals

The country has competed 54 times and won seven, but not since 1996

Ireland's Eurovision 2022 representative is Brooke Scullion. EPA

Ireland has failed to make it through to the Eurovision 2022 Grand Final after Brooke Scullion’s performance of the pop break-up track That’s Rich did not make the cut.

The singer, 23, who was third on The Voice UK in 2020 with mentor Meghan Trainor, was hoping to change Ireland’s recent fortunes in the contest.

The country has competed in the competition 54 times, triumphing on a record seven occasions, but has not won since 1996 with Eimear Quinn’s The Voice.

Despite receiving a rapturous applause after her energetic performance, Scullion — who wore a co-ordinated blue outfit as she opened her performance lying on a pink heart on the stage — failed to win over the international audience.

Scroll through the gallery below to see Ukraine finalists Kalush Orchestra:

Kalush Orchestra were Ukraine's winning representatives for the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest. Reuters

Ukraine's entrants won the title in 2022. Reuters

A member of the Kalush Orchestra. Reuters

Rap act Kalush Orchestra replaced singer Alina Pash, who withdrew after facing scrutiny over a reported 2015 visit to Russia-occupied Crimea. Reuters

Kalush Orchestra competed with the song 'Stefania'. AFP

'Stefania' blends modern rap and classical Ukrainian folk music. EPA

Ukrainian Jewish refugees cheer during a performance by Kalush Orchestra. AFP

Members of the Kalush Orchestra at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem. AFP

Kalush Orchestra perform during the Eurovision in Concert event at the AFAS Live arena in Amsterdam. EPA

BBC Three commentators Scott Mills and Rylan Clark shared their commiserations with Ireland, with Clark saying: “I must say this as well, gutted for Ireland. But I know Brooke is just going to go out and have a really good night tonight.”

Those who were successful in securing a place in Saturday’s Grand Final include the Czech Republic’s entrant We Are Domi, with their performance of Lights Off.

The electro-pop trio met while studying at Leeds College of Music and made it into the top 10 with a strobe-fuelled show.

In classic Eurovision style, the second semi-final featured a number of quirky performances including Serbia’s Konstrakta, who won over the audience with her peculiar song about Meghan Markle, securing herself a place in the top 10.

Sweden also achieved a spot in the final, with Cornelia Jakobs who spent the majority of her performance on the floor illuminated by a colour-changing circle.

Despite Australia’s representative Sheldon Riley’s diamante face-covering helping him to win a place in the final, unique looks did not help Georgia’s Circus Mircus, who failed to secure a top 10 place with their extravagant facial hair and accessories.

Scroll through the gallery below to see the first round of the Eurovision semi-finals:

Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine perform during the first semi-final of the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy. Reuters

Leading bookmakers on fan site Eurovisionworld have installed Kalush Orchestra as the runaway favourites at this year's competition. EPA

After their energetic performance, Kalush Orchestra thanked everyone for supporting Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. EPA

Hosts Italian television and radio presenter Alessandro Cattelan and singer Laura Pausini with Italian singers Blanco and Mahmood on stage. EPA

S10 from the Netherlands performs to clinch a place in the final. Reuters

Laura Pausini kisses co-host Mika during the first semi-final. Reuters

The international song contest has two semi-finals, this year being held at the PalaOlimpico indoor stadium. EPA

Italian singer Diodato performs during the first semi-final. EPA

Seventeen countries took part in the first semi-final. EPA

Ten countries advanced to the final at the end of the first semi-final, with seven countries with the lowest votes out of the competition. EPA

Maro from Portugal performs 'Saudade saudade'. EPA

Amanda Georgiadi Tenfjord from Greece performs her song 'Die Together'. EPA

It was the end of the Eurovision journey for the seven countries who received the lowest votes — Albania, Latvia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark and Austria. EPA

Systur (Sigga, Beta and Ela­n) from Iceland perform their song 'Med Haekkandi Sol'. EPA

Lumix & Pia Maria from Austria perform their song 'Halo'. EPA

Intelligent Music Project from Bulgaria with the song 'Intentions'. EPA

Monika Liu from Lithuania with the song 'Sentimental'. EPA

Zdob si Zdub and Advahov Brothers from Moldova. Reuters

Semi-final hosts Alessandro Cattelan, Laura Pausini and Lebanese-British singer Mika. EPA

A total of 18 countries will take the stage at the second semi-final on Thursday, where 10 will reach Saturday's final, which will feature performances from 25 countries. EPA

The PalaOlimpico indoor stadium in Turin, Italy. EPA

Intelligent Music Project from Bulgaria with the song 'Intentions'. EPA

Mia Dimsic from Croatia performs her song 'Guilty Pleasure'. EPA

Mia Dimsic from Croatia. Reuters

LPS (Last Pizza Slice) from Slovenia. EPA

Rosa Linn from Armenia performs her song 'Snap'. EPA

Ronela Hajati from Albania with the song 'Sekret'. EPA

Citi Zeni from Latvia with the song 'Eat Your Salad'. EPA

The semi-final featured some classic Eurovision-style performances, including Norway's Subwoolfer, who reached the final. EPA

Norway's Subwoolfer performed their song 'Give That Wolf A Banana' dressed in their signature all-black outfits featuring yellow wolf-head masks. EPA

Moldova's Zdob si Zdub and Advahov Brothers with the song 'Trenuletul'. EPA

Russia was barred by organisers the day after it invaded Ukraine in late February. Reuters

Reddi from Denmark with the song 'The Show'. EPA

Dancers perform during the first semi-final. Reuters

Favourites Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine celebrate reaching the final. AP

Italian television presenter Alessandro Cattelan, left, taps hands with her compatriot, singer Blanco, as Italian singers Mahmood and Laura Pausini look on during the first semi-final. AFP

Norway's Subwoolfer with the song 'Give That Wolf a Banana' perform during the first semi-final of the 66th annual song contest. EPA

Members of Ukraine's band 'Kalush Orchestra' celebrate their final qualification. AFP

Hosts Alessandro Cattelan, Laura Pausini and Mika gesture on stage. Reuters

Italy's Diodato, centre. AP

Italy is hosting this year's competition after rock band Maneskin triumphed at the 2021 contest. The group will perform their new single 'Supermodel' at the final on Saturday. AFP

Intelligent Music Project from Bulgaria singing 'Intention'. AP

Citi Zeni from Latvia. Reuters

San Marino’s Achille Lauro, who ended his performance on a bucking bronco after taking to the stage in a black feather bower and diamante encrusted cowboy hat, also missed out on a place in the final.

Israel, Malta, Cyprus, North Macedonia and Montenegro were also unsuccessful.

Finland had more luck with securing a top 10 spot as their representative, rock group The Rasmus, entertained audiences after opening the second semi-final with their song Jezebel.

Romania, Belgium, Azerbaijan, Poland and Estonia are all also confirmed to compete in the final after acts from 18 countries took to the stage in Turin, Italy.

The 10 successful countries will join the 10 who also secured places during the first semi-final round on Tuesday.

As voting lines opened, the interval saw a performance from the competition’s hosts Mika and Italian singer Laura Pausini.

Operatic pop group Il Volo, who represented Italy at Eurovision in 2015, also performed, but one of the trio’s members, Gianluca Ginoble, was absent owing to illness and featured only on the stage’s screens.

The Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final will take place on Saturday, where the 20 successful countries will compete to be crowned the winner.

The UK is among the Big Five countries — also including Spain, Germany, France and Italy — who do not have to qualify from the semi-final stage and gain automatic access to the final.

TikTok star Sam Ryder, 32, will represent the UK on Saturday with his uplifting pop song Space Man.