The half-century-old song contest is a lovable institution, but one best experienced at a Wogan-watching, contestant-slagging, sing-along-a- Eurovision party. Use this guide to organise your own impromptu bash.
DO:
* Invite the neighbours: As in, people from other European countries.
* Rent some electrical entertainment: A giant flatscreen TV or a karaoke machine.
* Look the part: Get out your Dana outfit, your Morris-dancing costume or your lederhosen for a bit of cross-cultural dressing.
* Place your bets: Pick a country from a hat, put an agreed sum of money into a pot and pray like Johnny Logan that you win. Winner takes all.
* Serve appropriate food: In tribute to the host city, chicken Kiev. And for a patriotic dessert, what about a "Paddy pavlova", made with kiwi, pear and mandarin oranges (tinned will do)?
* Watch carefully: Turn to BBC1 for Terry Wogan's sardonic commentary on the entries. Go to Ceefax 888 to read the wonderful lyrics.
DON'T:
* Say the wrong thing: Don't say "nil points" ad nauseam. It's "nul points", you numbskull. And surely you can think of something slightly funnier.
* Underdo it: Out-nerd the fact fans, outdance the Spaniards. And, if you're thinking of coming out, could there be a better moment?
* Expose your ignorance: Don't confuse Slovakia with Slovenia, Switzerland with Sweden. ...
* Get political: Don't discuss Ukraine's presidency or the validity of Israel's entry. Ban people who go to US-election result parties.
* Stick with Terry: As the contest nears its nail-biting finish, switch to Marty on RTÉ 1 for unashamedly Hibernocentric vote-watching.
* Miss it: Don't get so tired and emotional during the FA Cup that you fall asleep for the real clash of the day. Eurovision, 8pm, RTÉ 1 and BBC 1.
EUROVISION WINNERS 1956-2004
1956 Lys Assia, Switzerland, with Refrain 1957 Corry Brokken, The Netherlands, with Net Als Toen 1958 André Claveau, France, with Dors, Mon Amour 1959 Teddy Scholten, Netherlands, with Een Beetje 1960 Jacqueline Boyer, France, with Tom Pillibi 1961 Jean-Claude Pascal, Luxembourg, with Nous les Amoureux 1962 Isabelle Aubret, France, with Un Premier Amour 1963 Grethe and Jorgen Ingmann, Denmark, with Dansevise 1964 Gigliola Cinquetti, Italy, with Non Ho L'età 1965 France Gall, France, with Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son 1966 Udo Jürgens, Austria, with Merci Chérie 1967 Sandie Shaw, UK, with Puppet on a String 1968 Massiel, Austria, with La La La 1969 There were four winners: Lulu, UK, with Boom Bang-a-Bang; Salomé (pictured), Spain, with Vivo Cantando; Lenny Kuhr, The Netherlands, with De Troubadour; and Frida Boccara, France, with Un Jour, un Enfant 1970 Dana, Ireland, with All Kinds of Everything 1971 Séverine, Monaco, with Un Banc, un Arbre, une Rue 1972 Vicky Leandros, Luxembourg, with Après Toi 1973 Anne-Marie David, Luxembourg, with Tu te Reconnaîtras 1974 Abba, Sweden, with Waterloo 1975 Teach-In, The Netherlands, with Ding-a-Dong 1976 Brotherhood of Man, UK, with Save Your Kisses for Me 1977 Marie Myriam, France, with L'Oiseau et l'Enfant 1978 Izhar Cohen & Alpha-Beta, Israel, with A-Ba-Ni-Bi 1979 Gali Atari and Milk & Honey, Israel, with Hallelujah 1980 Johnny Logan, Ireland, with What's Another Year 1981 Bucks Fizz, UK, with Making Your Mind Up 1982 Nicole, Germany, with Ein Bisschen Frieden 1983 Corinne Hermès, Luxembourg, with Si la Vie Est Cadeau 1984 Herrey's, Sweden, with Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley 1985 Bobbysocks, Norway, with La Det Swinge 1986 Sandra Kim, Belgium, with J'aime la Vie 1987 Johnny Logan, Ireland, with Hold Me Now 1988 Céline Dion, Switzerland, with Ne Partez Pas sans Moi 1989 Riva, Yugoslavia, with Rock Me 1990 Toto Cutugno, Italy, with Insieme: 1992 1991 Carola, Sweden, with Fangad Av En Stormvind 1992 Linda Martin, Ireland, with Why Me? 1993 Niamh Kavanagh, Ireland, with In Your Eyes 1994 Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan, Ireland, with Rock'n'Roll Kids 1995 Secret Garden, Norway, with Nocturne 1996 Eimear Quinn, Ireland, with The Voice 1997 Katrina & the Waves, UK, with Love Shine a Light 1998 Dana International, Israel, with Diva 1999 Charlotte Nilsson, Sweden, with Take Me to Your Heaven 2000 Olsen Brothers, Denmark, with Fly on the Wings of Love 2001 Tanel Padar, Dave Benton and 2XL, Estonia, with Everybody 2002 Marie N, Latvia, with I Wanna 2003 Sertab Erener, Turkey, with Everyway that I Can 2004 Ruslana Lyzhicko, Ukraine, with Wild Dances