Disappointment as former Limerick IT student misses out on Eurovision final

THERE was disappointment for former Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) student Sarah McTernan, as she missed out on a place in the Eurovision Song Contest final.

Sarah performed in second position in Thursday night’s semi-final with her 1950s-inspired track 22.

But the former LIT music technology student did not make the final 10 countries heading to Saturday night’s final in Tel Aviv from the second semi-final, which was considered much stronger than the first.

“I felt really happy in myself. I wanted to be able to look back and be happy and be comfortable with the performance myself so you know what, I was happy,” the 25-year-old from Scariff, Co Clare, said in the immediate aftermath of her performance.

"All the team worked so hard and they’re absolutely incredible and things don’t always go your way but we’re looking on the bright side,” she added at the Expo Tel Aviv arena in the Israeli city.

It’s only the fourth time in 10 years that Ireland has failed to qualify from a semi-final for the showpiece Saturday night grand final.​

Despite lean times recently, Ireland remains the most successful country to have entered Eurovision, with wins in 1970, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1994, 1994 and most recently in 1996 when Eimear Quinn’s The Voice triumphed.