Why The Statistics Say Ireland Has A Chance At The Eurovision Tonight

Ireland could end its dry spell at the Eurovision tonight, according to the show's statistics.

Ryan Dolan will perform 26th and last this evening for Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest final.

For the first time this year, the running order was finalised by the local Swedish TV producers rather than the artists drawing lots, the Irish Times reports.

It is thought they felt Ireland's catchy, upbeat song Only Love Survives could end the show on a buzz.

“It’s great that we’ll be fresh in people’s minds just as the voting lines open,” Ryan Dolan said.

And it looks like the statistics agree with him. Over the years, the stats have proved that singing in the second half of the contest certainly helps boost scores.

In fact, since 2004 only one winner in the semi-finals and finals has competed in the first half of the running order.

Dolan could also pick up votes from people who tune in to the programme later.

The Navan man is gearing to go tonight... 

Ryan and his supporting performers have already performed for the juries. These juries decide on 50 per cent of the result.

The odds are on Denmark’s anthem Only Teardrops to win tonight, followed by Norway’s electro-pop number I Feed You My Love and the Ukrainian entry Gravity.

Tune in the Eurovision Song Contest on RTÉ One tonight at 8pm.