Public to choose Eurovision song

The public will tonight pick Ireland's entry for this year's Eurovision song contest from a shortlist performed by traditional…

The public will tonight pick Ireland's entry for this year's Eurovision song contest from a shortlist performed by traditional music band Dervish.

A panel of judges - including former Eurovision winner Shay Healy, broadcaster Larry Gogan and singer Eleanor Shanley - chose the final four songs from over 200 entries.

Each of the songs will be performed by the six-piece Sligo-based band Dervish on the Late Late Show- Eurosong 2007. The public will then decide which song will represent Ireland at the 52nd Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki in May 2007.

Bookmakers William Hill have the song Until We Meet Again, which was written by Malachi Cush, Pam Sheyne, Martin Sutton and Don Mescall, as their 15-8 favourite for the Eurosong final.

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The other songs are: They Can't Stop The Springwritten by John Waters and Tommy Moran; Walk With Mewritten by Stigg Lindell; The Thought Of Youwritten by Matti Kallio.

Entries were open to songwriters from outside Ireland. Almost 200 entries were received from both home and abroad, with entrants from 11 different countries from across Europe and around the world.

Finalist Stigg Lindell is a Swedish musician whose songs have made it into the final rounds of the Norwegian and Estonian heats of the Eurovision Contest. Matti Kallio is a Finnish musician who has been performing in traditional Irish bands in Helsinki.