Ireland South MEP and former Eurovision presenter Cynthia Ní Mhurchú welcomes decision to withdraw from the Song Contest

An Ireland South MEP has welcomed RTÉ’s decision to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest.

After the European Broadcasting Union said Israel would be allowed to take part in the 2026 competition, Ireland joined Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia in pulling out.

Carlow native Cythina Ní Mhurchú, who’d presented the event herself with the late broadcaster Gerry Ryan in 1994, says it may signal the end of the event;