Cork-born artist Bambie Thug will represent Ireland at Eurovision 2024 with their song "Doomsday Blue."
The Irish performer beat five other finalists - Erica-Cody, AILSHA, JyellowL, Isabella Kearney, and Next in Line - during RTÉ's "The Late Late Show Eurosong Special" on Friday night, January 26.
"'Doomsday Blue,' the song, is to do with being overlooked, about having your potential ignored," Bambie told RTÉ before their performance on Friday.
"As a nonbinary person, I do represent a massive proportion of our country that is underrepresented," Bambie, who uses they / them pronouns, added.
Bambie ultimately won the Irish public vote, and, combined with points won via the national jury vote and international jury vote, the Cork performer emerged on top with a total of 32 points.
"I don’t know how I feel – I feel incredible!" Bambie said after Friday's show.
"My words are gone… as a lyricist you’d think I’d have more to say but I’m speechless – I’m so excited and I promise I’m going to do you so proud."
From Macroom in Co Cork, Bambie will travel to Malmö, Sweden, in May where they will bid to qualify for the Eurovision grand final on May 11.
Ireland, which has won the joint-most Eurovision titles in history, has not qualified for the grand final since 2018 after a number of disappointing performances in recent competitions.
"There’s something that makes my heart so warm about having the country see my art, my stuff, because this is what raised me," Bambie told the Irish Mail on Sunday.
"This is my roots, this is the ground that birthed me and is the reason I write the way I do."
Eurovision Song Contest describes Bambie as a prolific songwriter - they have amassed streams of 60 million on music written for other artists of varying genres, (Cassyette, Kidbrunswick, Fabich, Fika, and more), instrumentals in some of the UK's biggest nu-gen hits (Dear Goth, Petrichor, 4am) and inclusion on HBO’s "Sex And The City" reboot "And Just Like That."
On Sunday, Bambie Thug responded after they received some online hate in the wake of the announcement that they would represent Ireland at Eurovision.
"Remember I am a human too!" they said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
"If my expression of Art moves you to hate and anger then you are who I send the most love to," Bambie said.
"If you don't want to be part of the Haus Of Thug you are not obligated to come on this journey with me.
"But do yourself a favor and don't waste your life hung up on hate, internalised homophobia, misogyny, transphobia and self hate.
"Practice self compassion and perhaps you will learn to live in love.
"Don't be mad because you've forgotten the art of play, fun and creation you have.
"Sending you warm gold energy of kindness x."
Sending love and kindness to all of you who are enraged by my beautiful Art? - remember it’s theatre and chill out x pic.twitter.com/b3ktwcpqvB
— #swedewitch (@Bambiethug) January 28, 2024
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