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Eurovision win could ‘bring thousands to Cork and Kerry’

EchoLive.ie, 10 May

There are calls for Eurovision 2025 to be held close to Bambie Thug's

hometown if they win tomorrow night.

Daire Buckley, Katy Walsh, Dorina Tapaszti and Keely Buckley, at

Pickles Cafe in Macroom- The town is gearing up in support of Bambie

Thug who will be representing Ireland in the final of the Eurovision

Song Contest on Saturday night. The town of Macroom is planning an

outdoor 'watch party' in the town square from 7pm on Saturday night .

Pic Larry Cummins

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Amy Campbell

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.

WATCH: Macroom gets ready for a mega party as Bambie Thug vies for

Eurovision glory