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| Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurovision Song Contest 1980 | ||||
| Participating broadcaster | Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ) | |||
| Country |  Ireland | |||
| Selection process | National Song Contest | |||
| Selection date | 9 March 1980 | |||
| Competing entry | ||||
| Song | "What's Another Year" | |||
| Artist | Johnny Logan | |||
| Songwriter | Shay Healy | |||
| Placement | ||||
| Final result | 1st, 143 points | |||
| Participation chronology | ||||
| ||||
Ireland was represented at theEurovision Song Contest 1980 with the song "What's Another Year", written byShay Healy, and performed byJohnny Logan. The Irish participating broadcaster,Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ), selected its entry through a national final. The entry eventually won the Eurovision Song Contest.
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Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ) held the sixteenth edition of the National Song Contest on 9 March 1980 at its studios inDublin, hosted byLarry Gogan. Eight songs were performed live to the Irish viewers and listeners, with the winning song being decided by 10 regional juries across the country.[1]
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roy Taylor and Karen Black | "Lovin' Won't Let You Down" | 13 | 3 |
| 2 | The Straw Hat and Garter Company | "Take Me Back Again" | 2 | 8 |
| 3 | Eileen Reid | "The Saddest Show on Earth" | 10 | 4 |
| 4 | Charlie Chapman and The Miami | "You're So Cheeky" | 5 | 5 |
| 5 | Johnny Logan | "What's Another Year" | 40 | 1 |
| 6 | The Dajacs | "You Have" | 4 | 7 |
| 7 | Peter Beckett | "Stepping Stones" | 21 | 2 |
| 8 | Romance | "Love Is All There Is" | 5 | 5 |
| Draw | Song | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Lovin' Won't Let You Down" | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 13 | ||||
| 2 | "Take Me Back Again" | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||
| 3 | "The Saddest Show on Earth" | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | |||||
| 4 | "You're So Cheeky" | 2 | 3 | 5 | ||||||||
| 5 | "What's Another Year" | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 40 |
| 6 | "You Have" | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |||||||
| 7 | "Stepping Stones" | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 21 | |||||
| 8 | "Love Is All There Is" | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
_winnaar_Johnny_Logan_in_aktie%2c_Bestanddeelnr_930-7803.jpg)
TheEurovision Song Contest 1980 was held at theCongresgebouw inthe Hague, Netherlands. Ireland performed 17th on the night of the contest, followingFrance and precedingSpain. Logan received 143 points for his performance, winning the contest for Ireland.[2] This was Ireland's second victory, ten years after itsfirst in 1970.[3]
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Among "What's Another Year"'s future honours as a Eurovision evergreen was its inclusion as one of the fourteen competing songs inCongratulations, Eurovision's fiftieth anniversary contest special. It was one of two Irish entries competing to be named the best Eurovision entry of all time, the other being Logan's subsequent winner, "Hold Me Now". The song was performed second on the night, following the United Kingdom'sCliff Richard with "Congratulations" and preceding Israel'sDana International with "Diva." Unlike "Hold Me Now," "What's Another Year" failed to make it past the first round, finishing 12th with 74 points.[5]
| Score | Country |
|---|---|
| 12 points | |
| 10 points | |
| 8 points | Ireland |
| 7 points | |
| 6 points | |
| 5 points |  Denmark |
| 4 points | |
| 3 points | |
| 2 points | |
| 1 point |
