RTÉ's Eurovision Song Contest commentator Marty Whelan is celebrating both personally and professionally after he became a grandfather for the first time and Bambie Thug qualified for the Eurovision Song Contest final.
Last night he was relieved that Ireland finally made it back on the Eurovision main stage as Bambie Thug was one of the ten acts to make it through to Saturday's final.
Speaking to Liveline host Katie Hannon on RTÉ Radio 1 on Wednesday, Marty, who is presenting his 25th Eurovision, also revealed that his daughter Jessica has welcomed new baby Lily Nora, who is named after both of her grandmothers.
"It's the first grandchild on either side of the family, so it’s obviously a very big deal," he said. "We’re all high as kites. She’s just five weeks’ old and it’s fantastic."
Tuesday night was the first time Ireland has made it through to the Eurovision final since 2018, a far cry when we were celebrating back-to-back wins during the 1990s.
"We’ve anxiously waited for the last number of years to get through," Marty told Katie Hannon.
"We’re in the event now. We haven’t been for six years. When you’re not in it you think: 'Well, who cares who wins?’ But now we’re in it, as the fella says, we have skin in the game, now everybody is flag-waving and you have a different attitude, I think.
"The Swedes have won it seven times, we’ve won it seven times, and Bambie’s dad is Swedish, and Bambie’s mum is Irish," he added. "So there’s a whole thing going on."
Marty also feels that getting through to Saturday's final in Malmö will put a smile on many people’s faces back in Ireland as anticipation builds ahead of the final.
"There’s much negativity and horribleness going on in the world, and here we are in the Eurovision Song Contest bubble in Malmö, and I hope it gives the nation a bit of a lift on Saturday.
"And it'll give us all an excuse to fly the flag for an evening and be a part of something."
"We’ll have the Baileys on Saturday," Marty also confirmed. "We have a bottle of Baileys with us every year.
"Terry Wogan gave me a bottle the first time I covered the Eurovision and as a result, I share a bottle with my colleagues on the night. And it’s always great fun.
"The reason why we do it is that, as Terry Wogan rightly said, 'When you're watching the Eurovision, you're worse for drink, and why wouldn’t the commentators [have a tipple]?’ And it’s just enough to make you feel festive.
"And I’m not doing an ad for them," he added. "There are other drinks available."
