Entering the top five of the Eurovision Top 100 countdown, at number five, it’s Ireland’s 1993 winning song, “In Your Eyes.”
The Republic of Ireland has churned out numerous Eurovision classics. One would expect such a thing from a country that produced seven winning efforts. 1993 was a difficult year for a song to climb to the top, given that the main contenders in this contest were very, very good. Two of them, “Better the Devil You Know” and “Moi, tout simplement,” also made this list, while “Mama Corsica” got an honorable mention. It takes a substantial effort to stand out in a contest with such heavy hitters, and Ireland did in a big way.
Vital Information: “In Your Eyes”
| Song | In Your Eyes |
| Performed By | Niamh Kavanagh |
| Written By | Jimmy Walsh |
| Country | Ireland |
| Year | 1993 |
| Language(s) Performed In | English |
| How It Fared | Won (187 Points) |
| Was It Fair? | Yes, in a tough year to win |
What I Liked
Niamh’s performance in 1993 was, in a word, brilliant. If you feel that this was the best song that Ireland ever sent to the Eurovision Song Contest, I agree with you. This is the country that gave us Johnny Logan and his two winning efforts, but it is high praise to say that this one was even better.
When you’ve watched something like 1,700 Eurovision songs and counting, most fade into the background. It’s even more rare to witness a performance where you can actually feel the song, as if it’s a tangible object. Niamh Kavanagh sang the living hell out of this song, and her emotion and power were evident. It was without question one of the best vocal performances in Eurovision history.
Other Facts
- This was Ireland’s fifth win at Eurovision, and as they had also won in 1992, it was their first back-to-back victory. They would also win in 1994 to become the first country to win three in a row. Niamh was the first Irish representative to win the contest at home in Ireland.
- She would represent Ireland again 17 years later with her song “It’s for You.”
- Ireland performed 14th in the running order in this newly-expanded contest.
- Niamh Kavanagh and Ireland received at least one point from the juries of every other country in the contest, with an average score per country of almost eight.
Look “In Your Eyes”
That’s the best way to watch the video on Niamh’s winning performance on YouTube.
