Non Binary singer Nemo topped with their Popera track The Code about self-discovery.
Nemo of Switzerland wins the title with his song The Code during the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden. Picture: AP Photo/Martin Meissner
Ireland’s entrant Bambie Thug came sixth with their song Doomsday Blue.
Bambie Thug’s performance of Doomsday Blue was met with rapturous applause and they finished their performance with the words ‘Love will always triumph over hate’.
It is the most successful entrant Ireland has had in the Eurovision in recent years – the last time Ireland qualified for the Grand Final was in 2018 with Ryan O’Shaughnessy’s Together.
The last time Ireland came sixth in the Grand Final was almost a quarter of a century ago in 2000 with Eamonn Toal Millennium of Love.
The result came after a fraught and chaotic 24 hours.
On Saturday afternoon, the EBU announced that the Dutch act Joost Klein had been disqualified.
Shortly afterwards Irish act Bambie Thug was absent from dress rehearsals following an ‘incident’.
The singer issued a statement saying they ‘hoped to see’ fans on stage that evening.
The non-binary act said there had been a ‘situation’ while waiting to go on stage which they felt urgently needed to be brought to the attention of the EBU.
“The EBU have taken this matter seriously and we have been in discussion about what action needs to be taken. This means I have missed my dress rehearsal. I am really sorry to the fans that have come to see me. I hope to see you on the stage tonight”.
They later said the situation was unresolved and that and said that Israeli commentators had broken rules of the contest.
Earlier in the day, the EBU announced that the Netherlands would not take part in the contest.
This was as a result of an ‘incident’ involving a female member of the Swedish production team that took place on Thursday evening after Klein’s performance.
“Swedish police have investigated a complaint made by a female member of the production crew after an incident following his performance in Thursday night’s Semi Final,” a statement from the EBU said.
“While the legal process takes its course, it would not be appropriate for him to continue in the Contest,” they said.
It is the first time in Eurovision’s 68-year history that a contestant has been disqualified after the start of the five-day event.
The EBU said it maintains ‘a zero-tolerance policy towards inappropriate behavior’ at the event and ‘are committed to providing a safe and secure working environment for all staff at the Contest’.”
The Dutch broadcaster Avrotros said the decision was “disproportionate”.
There was tension in the streets of Malmo yesterday as protests took place around the city yesterday.
Throughout the week there were demonstrations opposing Israel’s participation in Eurovision and calls for them to be expelled from the contest. In 2022, Russia were suspended from the contest following the invasion of Ukraine.
In the street, people help signs that read ‘Welcome Genocide’ in the same font as Eurovisions official logo.
“We are here because there is a genocide going on in Gaza and we want the perpetrator Israel banned from the contest. We are residents of Malmo… we want to show solidarity with Eurovision,” Nina Eriksson said.
In an interview with Swedish channel SVT, Director General of the EBU and former Director General of RTE, Noel Curran, admitted the 68th song contest had not been a ‘normal Eurovision’.
Curran said he stands over the EBU’s decision to include the Israeli broadcaster in this year’s contest.
Some of the acts have spoken about Israel’s participation ‘overshadowing’ the event – and there have been protests with people chanting that ‘songs and glitter cannot hide the genocide’.
In response Curran said: “I wish my job was one where every decision the EBU made went smoothly… Unfortunately, when you are in these positions, and particularly when you have gone through a process of the member governing bodies to make a decision, I can’t look back and say the decision was the wrong decision.”
He added: “I respect the protesters. I am not going to pretend this has been a completely normal Eurovision. I can’t look back and say we should have done this differently. And I can’t look back and say the governing member bodies should have done this differently. We were faced with a situation and that decision was made.”
Last night, 25 acts took to the stage – there were gravity defying performances, spell circles, emotive ballads, and infectious pop songs.
Last year’s winner Loreen and the Abbatars performed during the show which pulls in worldwide viewership figures of 200 million.