Ireland's next eurovision song is a turkey..

So Eurovision contest in Ireland has always been seen as a double edge sword. We hate and we love it. Its the national song contest for Europe. Think American Idol but with even worse songs. Now it has launched some careers (like Abba who won it one year).

Ireland won so many times in a row at one point that it was embarrassing and we were having money troubles just hosting it. (There was a funny Father Ted episode re having Fr Ted singing as that wanted us to lose that year). On plus side it launched RiverDance into the world for good or bad and headbands everywhere for Michael Flatley types. But recent years have seen us fall to the bottom and come in last with no points at all.


So this years entry voted on by the folks in Ireland to go to the semi finals - by text, phone and email is..



Dustin the Turkey

who's a Muppet.. literally













Broadcaster RTE said that children's favourite Dustin the Turkey has been picked as one of six competitors in Eurosong. The contest will determine Ireland's representative at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade this May. Irish television viewers will decide if the cult figure's performance of Irelande Douze Pointe will ruffle some feathers across the continent.
Dustin has been a star of RTE's The Den since 1990.

A turkey-vulture puppet with a thick north Dublin twang he joined with puppets Zig and Zag, who later went on to UK stardom in Channel 4's Big Breakfast. Dustin remained to become the longest serving member of the cast and now has his own show, Dustin's Daily News.

He has a keen interest in politics and despite never officially standing, his name has appeared on ballot papers in the Republic of Ireland as a protest vote in elections. (He nearly won for Dublin Mayor twice...) Not only do our young folks vote but they wanted to show what they thought of politicians and voted in Dustin twice now for office...

Dustin has also showed a weakness for music: he has released 14 singles already and six albums. His last album - Bling When You're Minging - was released in 2005 and featured the duet with Chris De Burgh, Patricia The Stripper. His entry draws strongly on the campness of the Eurovision, featuring the lyrics: "Shake your feathers and pop your beak, shake it to the west and to the east/wave Eurohands and Euro-feet, wave them in the air to the turkey beat."