Eurovision win could ‘bring thousands to Cork and Kerry’

A FORMER Eurovision presenter has called for Eurovision 2025 to be held closer to Bambie Thug’s hometown of Macroom if they win on Saturday night.

Ireland South MEP candidate and former presenter Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has called on the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and RTÉ to consider hosting the Eurovision outside Dublin, in either Millstreet or Killarney.

“Bambie Thug is in with a real chance of winning Eurovision, and if they do, RTÉ will want to host Eurovision 2025 in Dublin,” Ní Mhurchú said. 

However, she said there were great venues in Millstreet and Killarney, adding: “Millstreet have played host to the Eurovision before, I do not see why we cannot do it again.

“Both Millstreet and Killarney are short drives from two fantastic airports in Cork and Kerry, and both have excellent rail links and plenty of accommodation.”

The Eurovision was last hosted in Millstreet in 1993. The year before that, Ní Mhurchú presented the show at the Point Theatre in Dublin with Gerry Ryan, the year of the first performance of Riverdance.

The Green Glens Arena in Milstreet, the venue in 1993, was an equestrian centre at the time.

The 1993 competition was the only one to be held outside of Dublin, with local Millstreet businessman Noel C Duggan offering host broadcaster RTÉ the venue for free.

Ní Mhurchú said it would be a fitting tribute to the Cork artist if the Eurovision was broadcast in close proximity to Bambie Thug’s hometown, and that it would be great for the region.

According to a report produced after the Eurovision was hosted in Liverpool in 2023, the local economy benefited to the tune of £54.8m (€64m) with restaurants, accommodation providers, shops, bars, and transport networks all benefitting.

“A show like this would bring thousands of visitors to Cork and Kerry and give a much-needed boost to our tourism product in the South, as fans from all over Europe would descend on the region to cheer on their respective countries,” Ms Ní Mhurchú said.

She wished Bambie Thug the best of luck for tomorrow night and called on everyone in Cork and Kerry to get behind any potential campaigns to host the competition down south if they win.