Ireland's Eurovision 2017 song released: "Dying To Try"

Brendan Murray from the boyband Hometown was internally picked by the Irish broadcaster RTÉ to represent Ireland at Eurovision Song Contest 2017. And today we know which song he's gonna sing in Kyiv: "Dying To Try".

Brendan Murray

Brendan Murray, 20, was born in Galway, Ireland in 1996 – the last time Ireland last won Eurovision Song Contest! He has been a member of the boy band "Hometown" since he was 17. Hometown's first single "Where I Belong" became the fastest-selling single from a debut act and the fastest-selling single from an Irish artist in 2014, reaching number one in the Irish charts.

Here Brendan Murray speaks about his Eurovision song "Dying To Try":

RTÉ invited back in December 2016 interested parties to submit a song for Brendan Murray. A panel appointed by RTÉ lead by the X Factor judge Louis Walsh selected Brendan's song:
– I want to find the best song for Brendan to perform on that Eurovision stage. I'm going to use my own contacts in the business and I want to hear songs from Irish songwriters or songwriters abroad until I find the best song, says Louis Walsh

Ireland in Eurovision Song Contest

Ireland holds the record of most victories in Eurovision Song Contest: Seven victories! The six of these victories was in the 80s and 90s:

• 1970: "All Kinds Of Everything"
• 1980: "What's Another Year"
• 1987: "Hold Me Now"
• 1992: "Why Me"
• 1993: "In Your Eyes"
• 1994: "Rock 'n' Roll Kids"
• 1996: "The Voice"

They have been in Eurovision since 1965 with 50 participation since then. Ireland has qualified for the Grand Final 7 out of 13 times since the introduction of Semi-finals in 2004.