Ireland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015


Ireland selected their Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 entry through Junior Eurovision Éire. The competing songs were broken down into four semi-finals.
On 23 March 2015 it was announced that Ireland would debut at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015.
Junior Eurovision Éire was won by Aimee Banks, who sang "Réalta na mara" for Ireland at the contest. She placed 12th with 36 points.

''Junior Eurovision Éire''

Shows

Semi-final 1

Final Duel
;Jury's vote
Final Duel
;Jury's vote
DrawArtistSongLyrics / Music Result
01Aislí Moran"Aisling"Aislí Moran, Greg French, Miss AliFinal Duel
02Muireann Vaughan"Miongháire"Muireann Vaughan Final Duel
03Adam Moloney"Lá ámháin"Adam Moloney Eliminated
04Aoibhín Walsh"Féileacán i mo shaol"Aoibhín Walsh, Brendan KeeleyEliminated
05Rachel Galvin"Bhíomar i ngrá"Rachel Galvin, Dearbhla CollinsEliminated
06Revolutionary"Splancacha"Ellen McGroary, Aoife Breslin, Síofra Mauerhofer, Aoibhín WoodsEliminated
07Leah Kavanagh"Tusa agus mise"Leah Kavanagh, Daire McGabhann, Áine Mulvey, Natasha Senanayake Eliminated
08Amy Scollard"Grá go deo"Amy Scollard, Elaine McCabe CuddenEliminated
Final Duel
;Jury's vote
DrawArtistSongLyrics / Music Result
01Zena Donnelly"I d’aonair"Zena Donnelly Final Duel
02Sophie Halligan"Caillte gan tú"Sophie Halligan, Paddy Reilly Final Duel
03Sceitimíní"Sé seo mo ghuí"Sceitimíní, Blue Ribbon Arts Eliminated
04Paddy Heneghan"Rún"Paddy Heneghan, Kate Heneghan, Art O’Suilleabhan Eliminated
05Katie Ball"Ag damhsa liomsa"Katie Ball, Greg French Eliminated
06Jane Breathnach"An chéad uair"Jane Breathnach, Kevin Breathnach, Billy Larkin Eliminated
07Lillie Foley"Tóg mó lámh"Lillie Foley, Flossie Plain Eliminated
08Olivia Emade"Seo í an oíche"Olivia Emade, Michael English Eliminated
Final Duel
;Jury's vote
Along with the winners from the four heats, two wildcard acts were entered into the final. They were Lisa-Rose McMahon who came second in week 1 and Aislí Moran who came second in week 3.
DrawArtistSongResult
01Zena Donnelly"I d’aonair"Final Duel
02Lisa-Rose McMahon"Bris amach"Eliminated
03Muireann Vaughan"Miongháire"Eliminated
04Aimee Banks"Réalta na mara"Final Duel
05David Kennedy"Fuar"Eliminated
06Aislí Moran"Aisling"Eliminated
Final Duel
For the final, a sing-off was introduced between the top two contenders.
DrawArtistSongResult
01Aimee Banks"Réalta na mara"Winner
02Zena Donnelly"I d’aonair"Runner-up

;Jury's vote

Aimee Banks

Aimee Banks is a young soprano from Moycullen, in County Galway. She represented Ireland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with "Réalta na Mara",, a song which she co-wrote and composed with Niall Mooney, Jonas Gladnikoff and Brendan McCarthy.
Banks had recently been awarded first place for the International Vocal Competition "American Protege" and was to perform in Carnegie Hall on 19 December. She secured eight National Titles at Ireland's Classical Festival Feis Ceoil 2015 and was also awarded Overall Vocalist Award and Bursary 2015 for Midlands Feis Ceoil. She had recorded her debut album My Classical Spirit and donated the proceeds to "Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice". In 2016 to high acclaim she debuted in her first Opera as the young Giordano Bruno in Roger Doyle's first electronic Opera 'Heresy' with commendations from 'Opera Now' 'The Irish Times' and 'Opera Today'.
Banks is in fifth year in Coláiste na Coiribe and is a student at The Royal Irish Academy of Music under the direction of Professor Kathleen Tynan Head of Vocal Studies and Opera. She can sing in 10 different languages.

Réalta na Mara

"Réalta na Mara" is a song performed by Aimee Banks, which represented Ireland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015, placing 12th in a field of 17 countries.

At Junior Eurovision

At the running order draw which took place on 15 November 2015, Ireland were drawn to perform seventh on 21 November 2015, following and preceding.

Final

The staging consisted consisted of a deep purple background with a multitude of stars. The 'star of the sea' also appeared in bright light towards the end of the song.
The other important notice was that the waves in the sea behind Aimee were less rough, becoming as the song progressed to match with the lyrics. The stage for the performance was covered in dry ice, giving a mystical effect to the performance.
At the end of the voting, Ireland finished 12th with 36 points.

Voting

The voting during the final consisted of 50 percent public televoting and 50 percent from a jury deliberation. The jury consisted of five music industry professionals who were citizens of the country they represent, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency. This jury was asked to judge each contestant based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act. In addition, no member of a national jury could be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently. The individual rankings of each jury member were released one month after the final.
Following the release of the full split voting by the EBU after the conclusion of the competition, it was revealed that Ireland had placed 10th with the public televote and 14th with the jury vote. In the public vote, Ireland scored 43 points, while with the jury vote, Ireland scored 19 points.
Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Ireland and awarded by Ireland in the final and the breakdown of the jury voting and televoting conducted during the final.

Points awarded to Ireland

Points awarded by Ireland

12 points
10 points
8 points
7 points
6 points
5 points
4 points
3 points
2 points
1 point

Split voting results

The following five members comprise the Irish jury: