Emma Kelly: Bambie Thug deserves success, but a boycott means more to me – a superfan – than Eurovision glory

Bambie Thug performing 'Doomsday Blue' in Malmo. Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett

Emma Kelly

It’s a strange time to be an Irish Eurovision superfan. Since my 20s, the song contest has become my passion. I have worked at the show, I have attended the last two contests, in Turin and Liverpool. I spend months leading up to it dissecting songs, performances and odds, and have met many close friends through it.

And finally, after years of heartache, Ireland are in with a shot after Bambie Thug qualified for the 2024 live final with their song Doomsday Blue. It was a risky choice of song, but it has been elevated by Bambie’s fantastic performance and creative staging.