Eurovision 2021: RTÉ launches Ireland’s song contest contender

Lesley Roy to perform Maps on The Late Late Show in fresh effort to win competition


Lesley Roy is getting her second chance to represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest, after the coronavirus crisis forced the cancellation of last year's event, in Rotterdam.

The singer's entry for the competition, Maps, gets its first airplay on RTÉ 2FM's Breakfast with Doireann & Eoghan this morning, at 8.35am, followed by the launch of the song's video on Eurovision's YouTube channel at 9am. Roy will then perform on The Late Late Show, on RTÉ One, tonight.

“I’m so happy with the song and so passionate about it and Eurovision,” she says. “I’m working each day towards representing Ireland in whatever version of Eurovision goes ahead in May. It’s a true honour, and I want to have the best time I possibly can on the stage for Ireland.”

Michael Kealy, the head of Ireland's Eurovision delegation, says: "I'm really excited about the release of Lesley's song today. It was unfortunate that she didn't get the opportunity to compete in Eurovision last year, but I'm delighted that we are back with a song we feel is even better. Lesley is absolutely focused on getting to perform on stage in Rotterdam, and I believe that this song is going to do really well with Eurovision fans worldwide."

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Roy is due to perform in the first semi-final of Eurovision 2021, on Tuesday, May 18th; she’ll be hoping to make it to the final on Saturday, May 22nd.