Again sad news, just at the start of 2021: Liam Reilly passed away at age 65. Liam Reilly was the Irish participant in the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest and became 2nd with the song “Somewhere in Europe”.
Liam Reilly, was an Irish singer/songwriter and musician . He was a member of the group Bagatelle. He left the group in the mid-1980s and moved to the USA. There he started a solo career and recorded his first album “Savannah Serenade”. In 1988 he took part in the Irish National Song Contest, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song “Lifeline”. He became 2nd but came back to win the event in 1990. As a composer, Reilly returned to Eurovision in 1991 when he wrote Kim Jackson’s entry “Could it be that I’m in love”.
Liam Reilly also produced cassette ‘Throwing Caution to the Wind’. All songs were written by him except ‘Georgia on My Mind’ and ‘Moonriver’.
Reilly passed away “suddenly and peacefully” at his home on 1 January 2021. May he rest in peace.
Israel Eurovision 2025 Participation Sparks Boycott
Israel Eurovision 2025 Participation Sparks Boycott Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 has ignited a major controversy. After organizers decided to allow Israel to remain in the competition, four countries, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia, announced their withdrawal from Eurovision 2026 in protest. This rare Eurovision boycott has turned the contest into a political flashpoint. Background: Israel in Eurovision 2025 Israel finished second at Eurovision 2025, a strong result driven by public votes. However, several countries complained that Israel had artificially boosted its tally through a broad advertising campaign urging Europeans to vote for its entry. The dispute unfolded amid the Gaza war, pushing the ostensibly apolitical contest into an uncomfortable spotlight. In response, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) rolled out new measures to protect Eurovision’s neutrality. Government-led promotion campaigns were discouraged under the updated rules. In early December, EBU members reviewed these changes and decided not to hold a vote on Israel’s status. With this, they effectively confirmed Israel would remain in Eurovision 2026. Four Countries Withdraw in Protest Following the EBU decision to keep Israel in the contest, four national broadcasters promptly confirmed their withdrawal from Eurovision 2026. Ireland’s RTÉ deemed participation “unconscionable” amid Gaza’s civilian death toll. Spain’s RTVE and the Netherlands’ AVROTROS also pulled out after the Geneva vote, arguing that taking part was incompatible with their public service values. Slovenia likewise confirmed it would boycott the contest, as it had vowed if Israel stayed. Impact and Reactions The boycott is especially significant because it includes Spain. The country is one of Eurovision’s “Big Five” nations that provide major funding and automatic finalist spots. Organizers warn that losing multiple major countries could dent the show’s global audience (typically around 150 million viewers) and deter sponsors. Israeli officials, meanwhile, welcomed the EBU’s decision. President Isaac Herzog said Israel “deserves to be represented on every stage around the world”. This saga presents Eurovision with an unprecedented challenge: upholding its spirit of musical unity in the face of deep geopolitical divides.
