Ireland: Can Ryan Dolan make it Eight Wins?

Ireland – The Emerald Isle still holds the record for the most number of wins in the Eurovision Song Contest with seven. Can this year’s representative, Ryan Dolan, make it an eighth? He has a high profile act to follow after Jedward’s previous two excursions. Ryan is today’s second featured artist of the day. Read on to find out more about him and what his chances are in Malmö.

Ryan Dolan was born on 22nd of July 1985 and is from Strabane Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He has played support to many acts over the years including Tinchy Stryder, Jedward and many more. Dolan has been described as one of the most exciting homegrown musical talents to be discovered in Ireland in recent years. His YouTube channel has received over 800,000 hits.

Ryan is a big fan of pop music and loves Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, One Republic, The Script and Queen. He also loves dance/club music like David Guetta and Swedish House Mafia and likes to cover their songs at his gigs sometimes. He keeps a shamrock charm on his wrist and says that hopefully it will give him the luck of the Irish in Sweden!

When asked recently which his favourite Eurovision winner was, he said ‘Rock n Roll Kids‘ (Ireland 1994 ),

“I was still a kid then but I remember the buzz in our house when Eurovision came on and that song has been my favorite ever since, I love it!”

He’s hoping to wear Gucci in Malmö and his two favourite entries this year come from Russia’s Dina Garipova and Sweden’s Robin Stjernberg.

The song ‘Only Love Survives‘ was composed by Ryan Dolan and Wez Devine. Co-composer Wez Devine is a 34-year-old songwriter/producer originally from Malahide, Co. Dublin now based in Lifford, Co.Donegal. So far the fruits of their labour include being featured on BBC Radio1 in the UK in 2012 – their track titled The Secret by Zenemy DJz featuring Dolan found great support and was daytime play-listed by the giants of the station Sara Cox, Hugh Stevens and Scott Mills.

Team Ireland this year has a large Team Jedward basis, and also includes some that have taken part previously, which could be beneficial. Here’s some of Ryan’s team:

Mentor: Stuart O’Connor (Jedward’s choreographer, was in Baku)
Soundman: Terry Heron (Jedward’s soundman, was in Baku)
Manager: Conor Mulhall (Savee Entertainment, previously Jedward’s promoter)
Backing singers: Leanne Moore (Jedward’s backing singer, Dusseldorf and Baku) and Alison Vard Miller
Backing dancers: Alan McGrath & Colm Farrell (Jedward’s tour dancers)
Drummer: Nick Bailey

The team have just set off from Dublin airport for Malmö:

An ESC promo tour took him to Russia last week were he performed twice and met Dina Garipova as well as carrying out press interviews and appearing on TV (MTV Russia).

Ireland’s first rehearsal is tomorrow afternoon, and they will perform in the first semi-final on May 14th. Current betting odds put them at 40/1 and in 14th place.

You can read more about Ryan on his official Facebook page here. Follow Ryan on Twitter: RyanDolanMusic

New European promo video for ‘Only Love Survives‘:

Eurovision Google Hangout chat:

Live in Moscow:

Sources: Wiki, Facebook, Youtube
Photocredit: Dublin Airport – Kirsty