Watch: Irish fans turn Malmö green as they celebrate Eurovision qualification with Bambie Thug
Ireland's Eurovision hopeful Bambie Thug with fans Emma Hegarty and Sarah Mullen from Cork outside Fagan's Irish Bar in Malmö which hosted OGAE's Eurovision quiz. Picture: Andres Poveda
Can you put a roof on Páirc Uí Chaoimh?
After Bambie Thug’s success in Tuesday’s semi-final — and with chants of ‘Crown the Witch’ still being heard across Malmö — fans are growing ever-hopeful of Ireland’s chances in Saturday’s Eurovision Grand Final.
Irish flags and Bambie merch is around every corner of the Swedish city — and it’s apparent that Ireland are serious contenders in this year’s competition. With lost voices but re-found spirit, Ireland fans gathered at a Eurovision pub quiz in Fagan’s Pub, Malmö (organised by Ireland's official fan club, OGAE Ireland) to reel in the glory.
“My pants exploded, I was so excited,” joked Cork Eurovision fan Karl Fradgley when ask how they felt when Ireland made it through.
“Because they were called out ninth, it was pretty traumatic.
19-year-old Dillon Collie described the feeling as an “out-of-body experience” while Keeva Lennon from Offaly is still in disbelief.
“I couldn’t believe it. I still don’t believe it.
"As long as I’ve been watching it, there’s never been an act as good as Bambie qualifying for Ireland. I can’t believe we’re doing as well as we are.”
Áine Whelan from Dublin praised Bambie’s message of ‘being who you are’ and feels that the sentiment has touched the hearts of fans and official fan clubs everywhere, such as OGAE Ireland, the Irish branch of the Eurovision national fan clubs.
“OGAE Ireland are fantastic ambassadors for all things Eurovision but this year, we’ve really got behind Bambie. If you saw the WhatsApp chat, I’m not joking. I went off while I was at the semi-final and there were 894 messages. It was unbelievable.”
Scott Downey, who also hails from Bambie’s hometown of Macroom, echoed the sentiment of most fans, saying that it’s been too long since we’ve been in the final.
“It’s just fantastic. To get back into a final again after six years. We deserve it.” Ireland has not qualified for the final since Ryan O’Shaughnessy performed Together in 2018, a final, fans Martin and Micheál from Carrigaline and Passage West respectively, attended.
“We were over in Lisbon at the time, it was just fantastic but this time it’s just special,” said Martin.
“I think it’s bigger this time. The fans are just so excited. It’s just an elation. We’re in a bubble,” added Michael.
Whispers of ‘Dublin 2025’ continue to swirl around Malmö. Could Ireland have the potential of winning this year’s contest? President of OAGE Ireland, Frank Dermody believes it’s a very open horse race this year.
"It’s so phenomenal to have the feeling of ‘we’re back’ and in Sweden of all places”.
But where would we host it? Could Ireland compete with the infrastructure of other European countries for a competition this big? Are we getting ahead of ourselves?
The European Broadcasting Union has strict rules when it comes to hosting the competition. One is that the venue must be enclosed.
And as a Cork man, Dermody has already called for a tarpaulin to be placed across the top of Páirc Uí Chaoimh, just in case.
