Ireland's Eurovision entry Bambie Thug, singing Doomsday Blue, has qualified for Saturday's final in Malmö, Sweden.
As widely expected, the Cork singer was among the ten acts to qualify from the first semi-final on Tuesday night at the Malmö Arena.
Watch the moment Bambie Thug finds out they will be representing Ireland at the Eurovision Grand Final on Saturday in Malmö, Sweden.
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With Ireland's Eurovision commentator Marty Whelan promising something extraordinary, Bambie Thug delivered a superbly staged performance that mixed menace, melody, and the dark arts, ending with the exhortation to "Crown the Witch".
Eurovision voters took heed. Ireland last qualified for the final in 2018.
Speaking to the press after the results were announced, Bambie Thug said: "I'm completely dissociating. I'm having an out-of-body experience. I'm super proud."
"It's incredible that we've reached here," they continued. "Our country hasn't been here since 2018. I'm the first non-binary artist to qualify [for the final for Ireland]. And, yeah, see you Saturday!"
When Bambie Thug was asked about the slogans reading "ceasefire" and "freedom for Palestine" in Ogham writing that they had chosen for their face and leg during dress rehearsals, they replied: "It was very important for me because I'm pro-justice and pro-peace. Unfortunately, I had to change those messages today to "Crown the Witch" only - an order from the EBU (European Broadcasting Union)."
Watch: Bambie Thug says they had "out of body experience" after qualifying for Eurovision final.
When asked what makes them special, Bambie Thug replied: "What makes me special? I'm a queer."
A spokeswoman for the EBU said: "The writing seen on Bambie Thug's body during dress rehearsals contravened contest rules that are designed to protect the non-political nature of the event.
"After discussions with the Irish delegation, they agreed to change the text for the live show."
Taoiseach Simon Harris has congratulated Bambie Thug for becoming the first Irish act to qualify for the Eurovision Song Contest final in six years.
He posted on the social media platform X: "Congratulations to Bambie Thug, who has qualified for the Eurovision final tonight.
"Bambie will become the first Irish act in the Eurovision finals since 2018. It is time to bring the Eurovision back to Ireland and Bambie is the act to do it!"
On Tuesday night, Serbia, Portugal, Slovenia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Finland, Cyprus, Croatia, and Luxembourg also qualified for Saturday's final.
The "big five", which includes the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy, as the biggest donors to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), have already made the final along with Sweden's contestant Marcus & Martinus.
The Norwegian-born twin singers performed their love song Unforgettable, which saw them turn the stage into a dance club.
Eurovision was hosted by Swedish comedian Petra Mede and Hollywood actress Malin Akerman.
The second semi-final takes place on Thursday night when, in performance order, Armenia, Albania, Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Greece, Malta, Switzerland, Belgium, Estonia, Israel, Georgia, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, and San Marino will compete for the ten places available.
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