The Taoiseach expressed high praises for Bambie Thug, an artist from Ireland, following their remarkable sixth-place finish at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest; Ireland’s best result in almost a quarter-century. Bambie amassed a total of 278 rating points in this performance.
The laurel, however, went to Nemo from Switzerland who clinched the coveted title with an impressive 591 points for their ballad, ‘The Code.’ Taoiseach Simon Harris lavished praise upon Bambie Thug for a splendid and awe-inspiring performance. He lauded the effort and passion Bambie put forth during the contest and mentioned the massive applause that filled the stadium after Ireland’s act as evidence of the captivating performance.
He extended congratulations to Switzerland on their victory and appreciated Sweden’s work in organizing another successful event. He also showed gratitude towards Australia, their most significant musical partner in Europe, for being the only country to award them the complete douze points. He stressed that for the Irish, the star of the evening was unquestionably Bambie Thug.
The contest saw Croatia secure 547 points to come second, followed by Ukraine with 453 points, France with 445 points, and Israel with 375 points. The Irish public seemed to favour Croatia, who got the full 12 points, while Israel was the runner-up with 10 points. The UK unfortunately did not manage to garner any points in the public voting category.
Bambie, a non-binary artist from London with roots in Co Cork, voiced their belief that “love will always triumph hate” post their performance at the Malmö Arena in Sweden. Bambie, known to be vocal about their sympathy towards Palestine, later accused Kan, the Israeli broadcaster, of violating rules. They claimed they were waiting for a response from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) regarding the necessary actions to be taken. They informed the press that they’ve been made scapegoats and put in the position to defend themselves.
The TV network has breached regulations, and I anticipate their disqualification from next year’s competition due to their actions, voiced Bambi. Praising Nemo for his victory, Bambi acknowledged the immense pressure and substantial efforts that have been exerted behind-the-scenes to provoke change. The outrageously challenging struggle experienced by all of us who are among the top ten is something I take immense pride in, Bambi asserted.
Talking about past incidences, Bambi had previously missed a crucial dress rehearsal due to an ‘urgent situation’ that demanded immediate attention from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Bambi discussed this via an Instagram post, referencing the ‘situation’ encountered before the flag parade rehearsal. Apologising to the fans who arrived to watch, Bambi assured them of their presence onstage that night.
Eurovision’s organisers highlighted their absence in the third dress rehearsal, and utilised their previous rehearsal footage instead. The reason for missed rehearsals pertains to an ongoing dialogue with EBU and competition organisers.
In a statement, Kan’s representative hoped for everyone’s success in the evening. Graham Norton, BBC’s commentator and Ireland’s presenter, lauded the performer who staged a bewitchingly dramatic rendition of ‘Doomsday Blue’. He tipped them for high performance success whilst simultaneously cautioning younger spectators about the potentially intense nature of the forthcoming performance. Norton complimented Ireland’s excellent production quality this year along with Bambi Thug’s remarkable performance abilities.