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Now, despite the protests that were seen

0:17

in Malmö yesterday, Israel qualified for the

0:19

Eurovision Song Contest final after a public

0:21

vote last night. Ahead of the semi-final,

0:23

thousands of pros, Palestinian protesters walked across

0:25

the streets of Sweden's third-largest city to

0:27

show their support for Gaza and to

0:29

condemn Israel for taking part in the

0:32

event. Dara Brophy is news editor with

0:34

the journal he was at last night's

0:36

semi-final. He was in the arena and

0:38

he joins me on the line. Dara,

0:40

can you just tell us what the atmosphere was like

0:42

last night and what the feeling was as the acts

0:44

took to the stage? Okay,

0:46

well, I was in the arena last night and

0:49

the odd thing

0:51

about the arena, well, not the odd thing, but the

0:54

thing that's different to what you see on television is

0:57

that when those postcards are playing out that you

0:59

hear Marty Willard and Graham Norton seeking over, in

1:02

the arena you see the scenery being changed

1:04

and all the stagehands running around and there's

1:06

a lot of excitement and clapping when that's

1:08

happening and when the various performers come out

1:11

there's applause and throughout

1:13

the evening, throughout the songs, all the Eurovision

1:15

fans are up on their feet and stamping

1:17

along because they all know the songs, they've

1:19

been listening to them for months. So

1:22

there was a very positive atmosphere in the

1:24

arena. That all changed

1:26

a bit when the Israeli act came

1:28

on. She performed third from last

1:30

on the bill and there was just a

1:33

noticeable change in the atmosphere. It wasn't predominantly

1:37

booing but there was certainly booing

1:39

that could be heard throughout the arena. There

1:41

was loud clapping as well and cheering, particularly

1:44

from Israeli fans and it

1:46

appeared that people were trying to clap to

1:48

drown out any boos. One noticeable

1:50

thing, Jedward, who you might recall

1:52

represented Arden twice in the Eurovision, they were

1:55

seated in pretty prominent seats and dressed visibly,

1:58

let's say, at the back. of

2:00

the venue, they walked out and

2:03

you could see them walking out as the

2:05

Israeli act started. And

2:07

then they came, they came afterwards. I went

2:09

up and asked them if it was intentional

2:12

and they didn't really want to talk, but they nodded

2:14

and gave a thumbs up. All right.

2:16

And what size was the Israeli contingent in the audience?

2:20

The Israeli contingent in the audience. There

2:22

was a group of about 10 fans in front

2:24

of us who were very vocal or had

2:26

flags. And I know there was

2:28

pockets of fans elsewhere in

2:30

the arena. Eurovision is very big

2:33

in Israel. Probably most

2:35

years, a lot more fans would travel

2:38

out and about in the city. I didn't see any Israeli

2:40

flags in that there's a very long queue to get in

2:42

the arena. I didn't see any flags there. And

2:45

indeed their government had warned them not to

2:47

display Israeli flags and that it might be

2:50

dangerous. But they were certainly on show within

2:52

the arena among the fans

2:54

who were there. And the protests

2:56

outside were pretty visible. What

2:58

were they like? How close to the venue

3:00

were they able to come and how aware of

3:02

the fans, would the fans have been of them?

3:07

So I think all the fans

3:09

who went this year, even if

3:11

they weren't paying attention to the politics, they would

3:13

have been aware of it. So there was a

3:15

very large protest that I was down at yesterday

3:17

afternoon in the city center. So

3:21

the arena, if you're picturing Dublin, the arena

3:23

is, I'd say, in Blanchardstown. And

3:25

the city center is the city center. So

3:28

the protest was in the city center. It went through

3:30

streets around there. There was, I would say, at least

3:32

4,000 or 5,000, probably more

3:34

people at the pro-Palestine protest. A

3:37

much smaller group, a couple of dozen, made their

3:39

way to the arena just before the show. They

3:43

came out of the train station from the underground.

3:47

A big please contingent met them and barred them

3:49

from going any further. So

3:51

that was about half an hour before the show. So that was

3:54

kind of the most visible protest outside

3:56

the arena. There was very heavy security

3:58

presence. There was snipers. on

4:00

the roof there was an armoured vehicle or

4:02

two patrolling as well. All right and any

4:04

sign of anyone making their presence felt inside

4:06

the venue in an attempt at a protest?

4:11

Aside from the booing, no not really.

4:13

The previous night during the dress rehearsal

4:15

which is also in front of a

4:17

full audience who pay in the previous

4:19

night. It's an ad live show with

4:21

basically the same show with mock voting.

4:23

So there was a Palestinian flag on

4:25

for all and there was someone shouting

4:27

free Palestine free audibly

4:29

from high up in the

4:31

arena according to fans I spoke to.

4:34

All right I don't know if anti-booing

4:36

technology even exists but there was reports

4:38

that it was being used. So

4:41

is this science fiction or did you

4:43

hear any evidence of booze being damped

4:45

down? To

4:48

be honest I was in the arena and then I was at

4:50

the press conference and I haven't

4:52

actually seen the TV broadcast so I didn't

4:54

see what everyone else saw but I heard

4:56

talk that it wasn't that audible in the

4:58

mix that went out on TV. It

5:01

wasn't absolutely deafening in the arena either

5:04

you could certainly pick it up. The

5:07

EBU which organises Eurovision and

5:09

SVT which is the Swedish broadcaster

5:11

they haven't said anything about anti-booing

5:13

technology being used. All

5:16

right at the press conference then

5:18

afterwards what kind of an atmosphere was

5:20

there? Was

5:22

it all pretty much showbiz based

5:25

questions or did politics as

5:27

beforehand inevitably creep in? It

5:30

did creep in so the press conference

5:32

it's one of the biggest press conferences

5:35

I've ever been at which people might

5:37

think is a bit unusual for Eurovision

5:39

but it's probably from all around the

5:41

world really American media, Australian

5:43

media because Australia are in it now. So

5:46

there was 200 people in the room

5:48

people had to queue outside to get

5:50

in after the room filled

5:52

up so the Israeli

5:54

singer was last to answer questions and

5:56

the second question was from a Polish

5:58

reporter who asked... if she felt

6:00

that her presence at the contest was putting other

6:03

performers security at risk. So

6:06

she looked like she was about to answer the question, but then a member

6:08

of her delegation who sat next to her

6:11

chipped in and said, you don't need to answer the question. And

6:14

then the Dutch rapper who was

6:16

seated next to her shouted

6:18

quite audibly, why not? And

6:21

then she answered the question and said,

6:23

you know, the EB were taking steps

6:25

to make everyone safe. But the

6:27

Dutch rapper kind of hadn't looked happy

6:29

at all throughout the press conference. He

6:31

had his flag over his head for

6:34

quite a period. So it was just it

6:37

was a sign of tensions between the competitors

6:39

spilling out in what was a very supposed

6:42

to be a very stage managed event. All

6:44

right. Thanks Dara Dara Brophy, their news editor

6:46

with the journal.ie. Thanks very much

6:48

for joining us. Now we're staying in Malmö and joined

6:50

by Marty Whealen, broadcaster and Ortiz,

6:52

Eurovision commentator. Good morning to you,

6:55

Marty. Good morning.

6:57

Good morning. Good morning. Happy Silver anniversary. 25

6:59

years commentating. I don't know whether you want me

7:02

or not want me to bring that up. Is

7:04

it any different from your point of view? You

7:07

mean this year? Is it any different? Yeah,

7:09

of course it is. Because of

7:11

a lot of tension that is around.

7:14

But you know, again, it is still

7:16

the contest. We still do what we

7:18

do. We still have a

7:20

great act. We have Bambi Tuggs very well

7:22

and very high in the race. So from

7:24

my point of view, we still do what

7:26

we do. We just broadcast on

7:29

RT1 and Saturday Night Eurovision Song Contest.

7:31

And we're in it again after six years absence.

7:33

So it's a very good deal for us to

7:35

be here. And we try

7:37

to steer a line down the middle

7:40

as regards the program because the program is still what

7:42

it is. Bambi Tuggs

7:44

performance on Eurovision YouTube is at

7:46

4.2 million views now, which is

7:49

ahead of the favor of Croatia's

7:51

baby, Lasagna. Clearly, they're very popular

7:53

with Eurovision fans. What reception have

7:56

you seen there? It Is

7:59

Huge. The and and also

8:01

amongst the other competitors tubes. I think

8:03

that if you if when you look

8:05

at Bambee soak of the saw this.

8:08

Is is that It is. just as

8:10

it is. the performance statistics on at

8:12

the performance Of that it's the people

8:14

are free taking the tests and the

8:17

home sense of how published is set.

8:19

His performance and then obviously being very

8:21

outdoorsy will be non binary And that's

8:24

fine too. Ghosts and jokes against people

8:26

are drawn to. Bambee put that in

8:28

mind as well. So it's turns out

8:31

to be for us, am a revolution

8:33

in some way, somewhere else or something.

8:35

but it's pretty greedy. have an enormous

8:38

years. As you said, twenty five

8:40

there for me I suppose of years

8:42

sometimes you go with an active behalf

8:44

of and then you hear nothing about.

8:46

The other commenters is of the talking

8:48

about a puppy dog since I arrived

8:50

last weekend. sort of is a real

8:52

positivity towards asked and towards or it's

8:54

very good. For us it's once and

8:56

it maintains the interest for a bit

8:58

longer than has been maintained since one

9:00

twenty eighteen the last time or in

9:02

and made it through the urges through

9:04

to your vision sign of so. What's

9:08

the secret sauce and Bambee toads perform

9:10

and see things as opposed to supporting

9:12

his is it's a pass obstacle to

9:15

evoke when or need for that are

9:17

supposed to spoken is that there is

9:19

absolutely no purpose whatsoever. As a baby's

9:21

up to titles that we have a

9:23

rise was an act of people going.

9:26

oh. Merciful. Earth's This is that

9:28

what was described as as insistence you

9:30

know to talk about as so much

9:32

of a list of us to the

9:34

president's girl that was accept the satellite

9:36

dish for homeowners. it's immature business. it's

9:38

always been a disaster. asks I'll be

9:40

posts, we have just bought something I

9:43

hope and elements of it's absurdity just

9:45

to the tables on fasts I think

9:47

so. selfless twenty six but also some

9:49

is going to let some whereas in

9:51

a remote chance to one or two

9:53

that's important marty or lines a bit

9:55

shaky. so just briefly. Com as are we in

9:57

with a good chance. Yes,

10:00

We are absolutely even a good chance

10:02

at the moment we're hanging onto the

10:04

top five ceiling and at the moment

10:06

between Croatia and ourselves at there's a

10:08

very strong sense that we're going to

10:10

do exceptionally well. I saw that as

10:12

and that's what it is. what is

10:14

the competitions when us ally of as

10:16

we have a good show tomorrow night

10:18

level six the always be wells and

10:20

that's the important thing or a smarty

10:22

really Now Ortiz commentator their thanks very

10:24

much for joining us on the my

10:26

know I want to go to would

10:28

not just speculation on the odds. Put

10:30

the number cruncher, your vision number cruncher

10:32

and see Regime Covenants geography lecturer at

10:34

Minute University but also a Eurovision. Fun

10:36

and he takes i'm out of political

10:39

polling to do your division polling as

10:41

well. And eight and you've been crunching

10:43

the numbers on this. How are we

10:45

doing. What? Do

10:47

quite well. Ah, last night's demons

10:49

to would in order for the

10:51

final after. Seventy. Five Two and

10:53

is a few hours after. Ah,

10:56

On Tuesday night we were drawn

10:58

to perform in the first half

11:00

of the same sandwiches and great

11:02

the gossiping slots. In the

11:04

first half the are have been quite good.

11:06

In recent years we'll be performing and ten

11:08

please. No. Two countries have

11:10

one from tenth place the last twenty

11:13

years. Ukraine. Two. Thousand and Four.

11:15

Sweden. Or in our ten

11:18

to fifteen. And it's. In.

11:20

Terms of the for sauce on the simple

11:22

would be a pretty good reading or to

11:24

position. In terms of the

11:26

weight of a nord responded to countries have seemed

11:29

to be the ones. Sergio. To

11:31

beach or Croatia. And

11:33

Switzerland's. Know. The

11:35

semi finals on Tuesday and

11:37

Thursday were. Were.

11:41

Based only on the political, the final on

11:43

Saturday night would need a city percent in

11:45

the public both. Fifty. Percent

11:48

on the Judicial A. General

11:50

perception is Croatia probably very

11:53

cold season song allow ourselves.

11:56

To do very well in the public schools.

11:59

Ah to to rebuild. It's kind of the on

12:01

know meant to be here. Ah,

12:03

It could help Switzerland's. It

12:06

could also hedge funds. Since becoming a

12:08

D the.horse. You're. Uncertain from

12:10

the and disagree. In. Cities, It's

12:12

like a traditionally. You. Movies about

12:14

it was given the type two songs

12:16

or needs to be final. This.

12:19

Year fans could be to be guilty

12:21

about she just never know. It's to

12:23

uncertain from the end which is a

12:25

really good position and gooding order. A

12:28

craze in Switzerland Switzerland the got really

12:30

good position. to the

12:32

sea routes had gotten really bad decisions

12:34

and ring or the which is controversial.

12:37

Ah, The Netherlands would be unsafe

12:39

touches per year. These as. A

12:43

long time since other countries when from fit. The.

12:46

Most controversial about Ukraine who are

12:48

second favorite. Something to literally a

12:50

few old school. Had been

12:52

put at number two into a new order. Know

12:55

anyone who's. Not.

12:57

Don't know. It's

12:59

it's terrible. It's tested on humans

13:01

to make the decisions on the on

13:04

this because his advice of don't buy

13:06

a draw resists drawn open a kind

13:08

of a are running order based on

13:11

variety. Yeah. That's a

13:13

good up to twenty touching. It was a

13:15

pure drawl. Which I to disappear?

13:17

it's contests. Since. With these

13:19

are t it's been a producer grown

13:21

up winning order so there is this:

13:24

withdraw Traditionally you drew a you could

13:26

end up and foresaw for the second

13:28

half. This year to. Putting.

13:31

The a little elements for defying.

13:34

Sort. Of half the countries across

13:36

what is called producers Choice which

13:38

Pcb, you couldn't end up anywhere.

13:41

Or against Ukraine for producers choice to could

13:43

have ended up. In twins voted

13:45

pleased with got second please do not have okay

13:47

I'm going to put his hands on going to

13:50

put your the spot her age in a in

13:52

a word what place can you see? Bambee till

13:54

getting. Onto. Unsettled

13:56

need to chances? To

13:59

fight a medieval. Maybe. Not to

14:01

win the top five. Really brilliant. Okay agent

14:03

how the thanks very much for your thoughts

14:05

on not know Bambee talks home town of

14:07

the crewman County Cork is in the midst

14:09

of Eurovision fever. Al Katrina Helio brain is

14:11

the owner of Enchanted Flowers. She joins me

14:14

on the lines are Katrina was your was

14:16

or shop called Enchanted Flowers before you are

14:18

campaigning to crowned the which are not. Shop

14:22

Singing enchantress our last fourteen years

14:24

so we just got a painter

14:26

during the week and there for

14:28

your newsletter yesterday so getting paid

14:30

already for the weekend so he

14:32

can support her and support them

14:35

all and sport them in. Your

14:37

Vision this year. On has captured the imagination

14:40

of the tone. Oh it

14:42

has yeah like ourselves we sprawled

14:44

out on are you for waiting?

14:46

saw her candles or and windows

14:48

and we've got. All

14:50

kinds of different things that we

14:52

photo Some we meet some posters

14:55

and. On Tuesday to put into

14:57

windows supporting them being them. At

15:00

even some of the local residents of commingling all

15:02

we're just. the posters were like we meet them

15:04

ourselves, so we've actually arrested off a few and

15:06

are here on the counter for people to take

15:08

some. Any big. Formal gathering because the weather is

15:10

is looking okay for the next few days when

15:12

he i towards other end of the tone. Erased

15:14

are going to be one in the

15:16

square on Saturday evening. They're getting. A

15:20

speech and they're getting. Big

15:22

screen and are going to be receiving. Been.

15:28

Fierce parakeets on it. Easier for my here

15:30

in the town. Right on his bambee told

15:32

wins will you be campaigning to have Euros

15:34

Twenty twenty five bucks and coworker repeat? A

15:37

Ministries oh. Definitely back to me to me to

15:39

three. Yeah, because I was in receipt for that.

15:41

I would walk in there and fight off to

15:43

sell see all that behind the scenes of that.

15:45

Saw it be great to have a box anywhere

15:47

in park. Silversea.

15:50

alright thanks very much for that know

15:52

we're be a console qantas itself in

15:54

case you missed the ground for hims

15:56

his own and twenty a d grandpa

15:58

and twenty twenty four is tomorrow noise

16:00

on RT1 and RT2 FM and the

16:02

RT player from 8pm. Now up next

16:04

is the time to scrap the junior

16:06

cert.