Why is Ireland not taking part in this year's Eurovision?

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Why is Ireland not taking part in this year's Eurovision? 4 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleGabija Gataveckaite ,in DublinandRoss McKee , News NIPAActor Stephen Rea speaking at protest outside the headquarters of Irish broadcaster RTÉ in May 2025From Johnny Logan and Dana to years of dominance in the early 1990s, Ireland has a storied history with the Eurovision Song Contest. Ordinarily the country, which holds the joint record for most wins with Sweden, would join the rest of Europe in eagerly awaiting Saturday's grand final.

Ireland is one of five countries, with Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain, boycotting the contest over the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU's) decision to allow Israel to participate. The competition features no Irish entrant and national broadcaster RTÉ will not be showing events from Austria, airing a Eurovision-themed episode of sitcom Father Ted instead. Ireland's participation in the boycott is the latest in a series of moves that has seen the country at odds with Israel over its war in Gaza and led it to be viewed as one of the most pro-Palestine countries in Europe.

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Israeli broadcaster Kan has described the absence of Ireland and other countries as a "cultural boycott" which "harms freedom of creation and freedom of expression". But - for young people on the streets of Dublin and those in Ireland's Jewish community - what does the Eurovision boycott mean and why did it come about? Why is Ireland part of a Eurovision boycott?

Hannibal Hanschke/EPANoam Bettan (left), Israel's Eurovision entrant, celebrates after the first semi-final in ViennaIsrael's presence at Eurovision has been contentious since it began its war in Gaza in 2023. That war came after armed Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. Israel's offensive has killed 72,628 people in Gaza, the Hamas-run health authority there says.

During the 2024 and 2025 Eurovision Song Contests, anti-Israeli protesters were prominent and the country's participants were given armed guards. There was also controversy last year when Israel's entrant unexpectedly topped the public vote. Some countries claimed the tally was influenced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government's social media channels, who had repeatedly urged followers to vote for the song.

It's time for the Eurovision grand final - here's what you need to knowAnother year, another controversy for Eurovision - but fans are sticking by itEurovision boss: 'We're watching the voting very carefully'Eurovision changed its rules around voting and promotion in the wake of the controversy but five countries including Ireland went ahead with the boycott.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.