Former Eurovision presenter, now MEP, Cynthia Ní Mhurcú has welcomed a decision by RTÉ to withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. The decision comes after the European Broadcasting Union said Israel would be allowed to take part. Ní Mhurchú has questioned whether the Eurovision song contest can survive, given the exodus of countries from the contest.
WhileNí Mhurchú emphasised that whilst she is normally against cultural boycotts on individual artists, she feels that on balance, RTE have made the correct decision in this case.
“Thisboycott is not targeting a specific artist but rather the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation – which is an arm of the Israeli Government. I welcome it with heavy heart. I am a member of the Eurovision community, and it breaks my heart to say that this move will signal the end of the Eurovision song contest as we know it”
“I am thinking today of all the past Irish stars of Eurovision – Johnny Logan, Linda Martin, and my late colleague Gerry Ryan and lamenting the end of an era”
Earlier this year, Ní Mhurcú brought a formal petition before the European Parliament’s Petitions committee to suspend preferential trade terms between Israel and the EU. That petition is currently before the European Parliament.
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