Balbriggan singer Lesley Roy says she is “proud and excited” to represent Ireland at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
The 33-year-old performed her song, Story of My Life, for the first time on Friday night’s Late Late Show on RTE and the video has since trended at No 1.
Lesley, who divides her time between Balbriggan and New York city, where she lives with her wife of nine years, will bid to reclaim our glory days in Rotterdam in May.
She said: “The wait is over. So proud and excited to be Ireland’s Eurovision entry.
“Everyone has a story to tell … let’s do this, Ireland.
“I’m very lucky that I am from the era of Niamh Kavanagh, Paul Harrington, Eimear Quinn and the Riverdance years.
‘Deep impression’
“I feel like the back to back years watching it live from the Point Depot, with Gerry Ryan hosting, and the explosion of Riverdance, left a very deep impression on me as a kid.
“I definitely made a mental note that this is something I would love to do for Ireland when I grew up.
“I think I have a very high standard of what a Eurovision song should be because of those memories, and that definitely informed the type of song I would send.”
Lesley released her debut album, Unbeautiful, in 2008. She has since penned a string of hits for the likes of Adam Lambert, Medina, Jana Kramer, Marlee Scott and Deorro.
She co-wrote and produced the uplifting pop tune, Story of My Life, with a crew of Nashville greats including Robert Marvin, Catt Gravitt and Tom Shapiro.
She revealed: “We wanted something up-tempo and triumphant, which centres around overcoming your difficulties in life and getting back up again.”
Lesley will need to put in a show-stopping performance in order for Ireland to qualify from the first semi-final in Rotterdam on Tuesday, May 12.
She said: “My mindset for the coming months is to train, rehearse, prepare, perform, execute and hopefully bring Eurovision glory back to Ireland once again.”
