THE madness that is the Eurovision Song Contest got under way earlier this week without Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland.

Festivities in Vienna have been overshadowed by the growing international boycott movement as Israel’s participation continues to divide artists, fans and the general public.

Over 1,000 musicians and cultural figures, including Peter Gabriel, Paul Weller and Kneecap, have signed open letters calling for a blanket boycott of the contest.

Alternative events are also being organised in cities across Europe, including Brussels, highlighting the fact that Israel’s inclusion is incompatible with the values the contest claims to uphold amid Israel’s war on Gaza.

Russia was banned from Eurovision after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but Israel has continued to take part. This despite the fact that the health ministry estimates that 72,300 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s war in Gaza since the Hamas attack on October 7th, 2023.

Ironically, this 70th anniversary year of the song contest is promoted by the slogan ‘United by Music’, though in reality it is proving to be anything but.

Amnesty International says failure to suspend Israel from Eurovision, as it continues to commit genocide in Gaza, is an act of cowardice and double standards.

RTÉ’s decision not to take part, which came about after a European Broadcasting Union general assembly in Geneva, has been largely applauded here. The majority seem united in their resolve not to watch the spectacle on the BBC or any other platform.

Our stance, along with Spain and Slovenia (the Netherlands and Iceland will not compete but will air the show), has caused more than a ripple of outrage in some quarters however.

Some cynics claim it is nothing more than virtue signalling since we’ve only qualified for the final once in the last decade and it costs the national broadcaster in the region of €300,000 to send an entry.

Dana International, Israel’s 1998 Eurovision winner with the song ‘Diva’, wrote an open letter criticising the boycott and reminding us that Israel ‘is the only country in our region that is this liberal’.

The artist goes on to laud the Tel Aviv Pride parade as one of the largest in the world, arguing that ‘a large part of the people in Israel do not agree with our government’. That’s as may be, but Benjamin Netanyahu is still in power and the plight of displaced Palestinians continues.

A New York Times investigation claims Israel’s government orchestrated a well-orgnised campaign to use the Eurovision Song Contest as a soft power tool, manipulating votes and distorting results.

This would in part seem to be borne out by last year’s result with Israel coming second, an outcome that prompted calls from some countries, including Ireland, for a full breakdown of both the public vote and jury votes.

Again a move that was well-received by and large by our nation. The swell of pride falters however when you look at the alternative viewing lined up for Saturday night on RTE One in place of the Eurovision Song Contest.

While the Slovenian national broadcaster will air a series of documentaries on the Middle East under the theme Voices of Palestine, RTE has chosen to air an episode of Father Ted.

And not just any episode. The powers that be at Montrose have opted for the sitcom’s Eurovision-themed episode, A Song for Europe, where Ted and Dougal perform My Lovely Horse.

Not quite virtue signalling, but definitely mixed messages.