Ireland have qualified for the Eurovision final for the first time in five years with audiences loving Ryan O’Shaughnessy’s perfomance of ‘Together’.

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Just like in the video for the song, his live performance included two boys doing an interpretive dance depiction of a gay couple breaking up.

Ireland was one of ten countries to make it through to the competiton’s final after takng part in the first semi-final on Wednesday morning.

Ireland have won Eurovision many times, but the last few years have not been as successful as their past efforts. They’ve been in every single of Eurovision since it first launched over 50 years ago, and have taken out then prize seven times.

In 2011 they got to number eight with chaotic duo Jedward singing Lipstick, the brothers returned the following year with Waterline, and while they made it to the final they came nineteenth.

The following year Ryan Dolan came last in the final with his song Only Love Can Survive, since then successive representatives haven’t even managed to get through the semi-finals. Can-Linn featuring Kasey Smith, Molly Sterling and Brendan Murray have all been unpopular, even former Westlife singer Nicky Byrne couldn’t get a break.

Ireland will be hoping Ryan O’Shaughnessy’s can turn their fortunes around.

There’s tough competition though, Israel’s entry Netta might just have the right combination of catchy tune and oddness that has defined many a Eurovision winner.

Watch her performance as she combines samples, loops, chicken noises and attitude on her tune Toy.

The second semi-final is on Friday morning, Australia’s Jessica Mauboy will be completing for a place in the final, but is predicted to go through.

Watch the first semi-final below.

OIP Staff, images Andres Putting