I went on a bucket list trip and ended up ticking off two!
If you grew up in the 70s, 80s or even early 90s in Ireland, chances are you grew up watching — and revering — the Eurovision Song Contest. Those were the golden years for us, with Ireland's seven wins achieved across three decades.
I was born in the late 80s so, sadly, I only remember three songs from watching them live rather than on repeat over the years — In Your Eyes by Niamh Kavanagh in 1993, Rock 'n' Roll Kids by Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan the following year and Eimear Quinn with The Voice in 1996.
We also won with All Kinds of Everything, performed by Dana in 1970, What's Another Year? in 1980 and Hold Me Now in 1987, both sung by Johnny Logan, and Why Me? by Linda Martin in 1992.
All were exceptional songs, but I don't think anyone will ever forget the 1994 Eurovision, held in Dublin. That, of course, was the year of Riverdance — the interval show produced and directed by Moya Doherty and John Colgan and performed by Michael Flatley, Jean Butler and co.
I grew up in a Eurovision-mad household. My mam absolutely adored the contest and every year we'd all huddle around the TV with our various goodies and watch it until the very last 'douze points' was awarded — even if that was way past my bedtime in the mid-90s!
We haven't been very successful in the modern-day Eurovision era but that hasn't dulled the contest's allure for me.
So when I was invited to this year's contest by the show's International sponsor, Royal Caribbean, I jumped at the chance to go to my very first Eurovision. And it is a trip I will never, ever forget. And not only because this was my first time going to Eurovision, it was also my first time to visit Switzerland.
This year's contest was held in Basel in northwest Switzerland and close to the country's borders with France and Germany. In fact, when you land, your phone goes in and out of service between different providers — some Swizz companies, some French ones!
The medieval Basel old town centres around Marktplatz, which is dominated by the 16th-century red-sandstone Town Hall — a stunning building — and a hive of activity over the weekend of May 17 as Eurovision fans from all over the world gathered to cheer on their country's act.
Unfortunately, and in my opinion, unfairly, our act EMMY lost out on a place in the final the day before I flew out for the weekend — even though her song Laika Party was an absolute banger and was even played by all the other delegations over the course of the weekend as Basel was awash with Eurovision fever.
As the city sits right on the Rhine, there are fabulous cafes, restaurants and bars dotted all along the water. Our hotel, Hotel Krafft Basel, overlooked the water on one side, and a buzzing bar on the other — perfect for Eurovision celeb spotting.
This four-star boutique hotel, which is located directly on the Rhine promenade and in the vibrant Rheingasse, extends over five floors and the location couldn't be better for touring all of Basel.
My balcony faced out onto the street and on the day I arrived, as I got ready in my room for night one with the door to the balcony open, I heard a distinctive and familiar voice. Rushing to the window, there he was — Rylan Clark!
Rylan was commentating for the BBC for the weekend and was embracing all things Eurovision as he rubbed shoulders with fans, dressed in his finest colour and sparkle.
That was the dress code for the weekend and it seemed everyone in Basel got the memo.
When I landed in EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, which is operated jointly by France and Switzerland, it was clear nearly everyone there was headed for Eurovision. Many weren't lucky enough to nab tickets to the contest itself — this is the most-watched show on the planet, after all — but that didn't matter, just being there was enough for many fans.
On the first night we headed for dinner at a gorgeous restaurant, Le Rhin Bleu, that sits on the banks of the Rhine, and serves possibly the freshest pasta I have ever had. You can even swim to the restaurant if you so choose — we spotted some hardy folks doing so as we sat, dry, tucking into our dinner.
The great thing about Basel, too, is it is incredibly accessible. The city centre is walkable for the most part but if you don't want to be on your feet, the tram service is second to none.
We took two trams from the airport to the hotel, with swapover as easy as it comes. There are plenty of stops too, so you're never a long walk from your final destination once you get off the tram.
We used the tram service all weekend and never waited more than three minutes for one to come, including the one which took us home from the Eurovision final in the very small hours of the morning — after Marvin Humes, of JLS fame or The Hit List if you love a music gameshow, spinned some tunes for us at the show's afterparty.
If you prefer to use taxis, though Switzerland is certainly expensive, taxi fares are reasonable. It was less than €20 for the 20-minute trip to the airport on Sunday morning. I couldn't face a tram!
I was one of the lucky couple of thousand who got a ticket to the show's final, as well as backstage access the day before the show to get a glimpse into the monumental work that goes into a production of this calibre and entry to the hospitality suite before and after the show.
I even met Ireland's most-loved twins, Jedward, who are Eurovision royalty after they represented us with Lipstick in 2011 and Waterline in 2012 — the first time Ireland has sent the same act to Eurovision in consecutive years.
If you didn't get your hands on tickets to the St. Jakobshalle Arena for the show, there was around 36,000 people watching from St. Jakob-Park, Switzerland's largest football stadium.
You could also feel the spirit of the final with a walk down Eurovision Street which had live bands playing and people in sequins and elaborate costumes dancing and singing in the streets Or gather at the Eurovision Village in Messe Basel for daily live concerts, public viewings, and food stalls.
Before I headed to Basel, this was a bucket list trip for me and, after a weekend in the city, it seems I've ticked off two without even knowing it...
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Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Former Eurovision star considered taking his own life after song contest
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Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Eurovision star says he considered taking his own life after mental health turmoil
'I thought we were going to be millionaires. I thought I was going to be able to buy my mother out of the council estate. I got a holiday to Crete, that's what I got.' Former Eurovision singer Joe McCaul has told how he has struggled with mental health for years and even thought of taking his own life – but is coping much better now and is engaged to his partner Mark. The brother and sister double act Donna and Joe McCaul were selected to represent Ireland at the Eurovision in 2005 in Ukraine with their song 'Love' while Joe was still just 17. However, they failed to qualify for the finals – coming 14 out of 22 in the semi-final – and Joe has told how he was ridiculed and trolled in the aftermath. 'I thought we were going to be millionaires. I thought I was going to be able to buy my mother out of the council estate. I got a holiday to Crete, that's what I got.' The Athlone man revealed his lifelong struggle with his mental health and negative side of becoming a household namewhen he spoke to Brenda Dennehy on The Comeback podcast. Donna and Joseph McCaul News in 90 Seconds - June 18th 'Remember when we didn't get in, the devastating effect that had on me. I went back to my room, I was only 17, and I struggled very hard because that was more shame, more embarrassment, more rejection. Everyone was going out, and they (Donna and the crew) went to the finals on Saturday night, I didn't go, I just stayed in my hotel room.' He said when he returned to Ireland he was ridiculed regularly. 'I think over the years, I was nearly taken advantage of. I was made an eejit out of by people, people in the media. That was hard because I was saying, 'Where is my self-worth, why can't I be assertive?' 'I found it very hard to be assertive because I didn't like conflict, and then because I didn't like conflict, if I reacted a certain way, some people would say 'Oh that was very aggressive,' So I couldn't even stand up for myself.' Joe is the youngest of six siblings and his mother raised them on her own. 'My dad, unfortunately, he's passed away a couple of years ago, but I had no kind of relationship with him. Alcoholism, unfortunately, took over his life and then he moved to London.' Joe said when a media outlet discovered his father's issue with drink it caused massive stress on the family. 'Once or twice I thought of taking my own life.' He said he had suffered recurrent intrusive thoughts about suicide from an early age. 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She was even singing with me… Caroline Flack had an energy about her. She had her hand over me and it was like a way of apologising for the way I was treated. She had empathy.' Joe said it was one of the lowest moments of his life. Joe was trolled online in the aftermath. 'The s**t that was put online, I remember my friends used to be sending them to me and the horrible stuff that people were saying. I used to have to say please do not send me this, I don't want to be looking at it.' He said on the plus side he did a bit of media again in the aftermath and got a few gigs but he still 'really just wanted to forget that whole moment ever existed'. Joe revealed in 2014 that he had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the end of 2013, 'I literally just lost the plot then. I think I went on a self-destruct button that was hit. I went off the rails for months.' He said he was on medication that didn't suit him at the time but has since changed medication and is currently symptom free and in remission. He said he got back into running that has helped a lot as well as support from his partner Mark and his therapist and family and friends. 'Fitness, running, doing kind of high-intensity interval based kind of training has been my saviour. Not just for my physical heath because that's quite good but for my mental health which is an ongoing struggle that some days I'm really, really shit. But I have really good coping tools and I have a really solid support group around me.' His sister came out as gay years ago and Joe said when he told his family he was gay as well, it didn't surprise any of them. 'It was like they all kind of new. Donna was more of a shock. He said he went back studying in recent years doing a business course and a course on mental health before starting teaching in stage schools doing vocals. "...I met Mark. Mark is already a teacher. He said why don't you go back and do your teaching degree – so I went back and did my degree and I have that nearly four years now. So I am secondary school music and special educational teacher now.' If you have been affected by issues in this article, call Samaritans free on 116 123 or email jo@ or call Pieta on Freephone 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Netflix getting broadcast TV channels for first time ever in app makeover – but only some telly fans will see first lot
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