I believe U.K. gave Ireland 7 points.
Matt said:Louis Walsh said the song contest had moved into the 21st Century with Saturday night’s Eurovision, "and we would have to do the same if we wanted to have a winning chance".
Walsh said while Niamh Kavanagh was a great singer, she was “a little bit long in the tooth” for the Eurovision when you looked at the age of the other performers. “The buck stops with RTÉ. We need to find a contemporary song with a contemporary singer or a group. But they must be able to deliver the song with conviction.”
Walsh did not think that withdrawal is necessary. "We can definitely win again"
1970 winner Dana said that: This year’s contest was full of young performers with up-to-date chart songs. The good news is that good chart songs are back in mainstream competitions and on television.”
Shay Healy who wrote the 1980 winning song "What's another year" said that Ireland has three option
1. pull out of the contest
2. enter a quintessentially irish song with a modern twist
3. step up to the mark by prodcuing an entry with high production value and slick set with professional dancers