Ireland won’t take part in Eurovision 2027 over Israel
As controversy continues to swirl around Ed Sheeran’s music tour, Ireland is set to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest over the “appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza”.
Ireland will not take part in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest for the second year in a row, broadcaster RTE says, citing the ongoing loss of life in Gaza.
Ireland was one of five countries to not take part in the 2026 edition in protest over Israel’s participation, along with Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain.
Dutch public broadcaster AvroTros in August said Ireland would boycott again in 2027, the news coming after singer Ed Sheeran’s tour hit the headlines this week when Macklemore was dropped from his lineup for publicly raising concerns over the conflict at a concert.
“RTE feels that Ireland’s participation cannot be justified given the appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk,” the broadcaster said in a statement on Thursday.
RTE said it would not take part in 2027 or broadcast the competition, which will be held in Bulgaria’s Black Sea city of Burgas after they won for the first time in May.
RTE quoted Eurovision Song Contest director Martin Green as saying that the European Broadcasting Union, which organises the event, regretted but respected RTE’s decision.
“They remain a valued part of our family and will be missed,” RTE reported Green as saying.
The news comes after Macklemore was removed from the Ed Sheeran Loop Tour after saying “Free Palestine!” during a September 5 concert at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium while introducing his protest song Hind’s Hall.
Sheeran, who has not previously spoken publicly about the Israel-Palestine conflict, this week addressed criticism that he was effectively taking a side and offering tacit support to Israel by not speaking up, saying he was “not complicit”.
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“I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine,” he said.
“The suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy. There are too many wars across the world causing immeasurable pain, none of which should be tolerated.”
Sheeran posted on social media about the situation and attributed the decision to the tour’s promoters. Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, the Danish band Lukas Graham, and Finneas have also since posted on Instagram that they would withdraw from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.
Israel’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
– with AAP
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