Norwegian singer Emmy will represent Ireland at the semi-final on Thursday evening at the Arena St Jakob-Park in the Swiss city of Basel.
Skehan thinks Emmy’s pop song Laika Party is a “really great Eurovision song [with] really great production” and she will “represent us beautifully”.
But he is doubtful the song will make the same impact with viewers as last year’s Irish entrant Bambie Thug.
Roll ball sink
The Cork singer came sixth with Doomsday Blue, after receiving 142 points from the juries and 136 from the public. Ireland’s sixth place finish was the best since 2000 and the first top 10 finish since Jedward in 2011.
“[Laika Party] is a really great Eurovision song to be sending and really great production… Our chances to win I am a little worried about,” he said.
“I don’t think we are going to be up there. But it is a great Eurovision song and it will have people on their feet… It’s Eurovision out of the box, and will give us a great cheer in the audience.”
He continued: “It is a proper Euro pop fan favourite and that’s the beauty of it – everyone is singing it… Does it have enough to qualify? I think what Bambie Thug did last year was far more memorable in terms of just that shock on screen.
“As something very, very different and I think if we are going to get through the qualifying stages we have to look more towards Bambie Thug, than maybe what Emmy is doing. But I really wish Emmy well and I think she is going to represent us beautifully.”
Emmy Kristiansen, Ireland’s Eurovision 2025 entry rehearsing her song ‘Laika Party’ at St. Jakobshalle, Switzerland. Photo: Corinne Cumming/EBU/PA
Mr Skehan was one of many Irish fans who flew into the picturesque city for the song contest – there are expected to be over 100,000 arriving in the city for Eurovision.
There has been increased tension, and controversy surrounding the contest in recent years regarding Israel’s involvement.
Israel’s attacks have killed more than 52,000 people in Gaza, according to local health authorities.
There have been reports of protests in Basel and 1300 police are on duty with extra armed forces being drafted in from Germany and France.
This year, a number of broadcasters including RTÉ have asked for a meeting with the EBU over Israel’s involvement.
Mr Skehan said Israel’s involvement has affected the feeling at the festival.
“I think with what is going on many fans would prefer it if they [Israel] weren’t part of the contest… It ’s an awful thing that is going on. It is genocide. So to see them taking part and the EBU not cracking down on it is disappointing.”
This week, the Israeli delegation complained to Swiss police that during the opening “turquoise carpet” ceremony, a person made a threatening “slit-throat gesture” towards Israel’s 2025 entrant Yuval Raphael.
Mr Raphael is a survivor of the Hamas attack at the Nova music festival.
The first semi-final takes place on Tuesday evening, with Ireland performing in the second semi-final on Thursday evening.
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