Galway people are being asked to support a local artist in the Eurosong 2008 contest that will be held at University Concert Hall Limerick on Saturday 23 February.

Eurosong 2008 has received a massive amount of press coverage to date due to the fact that Dustin the Turkey from RTÉ’s The Den is set to compete against singer/songwriters for the honour of representing Ireland in the competition.

However, Galway audiences are being asked to support a local talent, who has also made it into the final six songs in a bid to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest this year.

Marc Roberts is a singer/songwriter, originally from Mayo but now based in Galway.   Prior to 1997, Marc fronted his own band doing his own original work: American country classics. The talented singer/songwriter hit the headlines in May of that year when he represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest with ‘Mysterious Woman’. Performing in front of millions of television viewers throughout Europe, Marc made the musical breakthrough and finished a very credible second on the night.

Marc’s debut album was released in 1998. The album highlighted Marc’s considerable writing skills with six of his own original compositions featured. He is currently working on his fourth album, which will include some co-writes with Jimmy MacCarthy and Winsten Sela from the US.

After a number of protracted negotiations with radio stations here in Ireland, Marc was delighted to join Galway Bay FM as a guest presenter. He currently has a three-hour Saturday afternoon show from 12pm to 3pm. This is predominantly Marc doing what he loves most: talking about and playing his favourite music.

Marc has also become a mentor to his showbiz pal Daniel O’Donnell, guiding and encouraging the superstar to become a songwriter. Realising that Daniel’s turn of phrase had a lyrical quality, Marc coaxed him into co-writing songs with instant success. The fruit of their partnership has led to 15 O’Donnell/Roberts songs appearing on Daniel’s recent top-selling albums, including one top 20 hit in the UK singles charts. 

Marc is no stranger to the Eurosong competition after representing Ireland in 1997 and coming a credible second with ‘Mysterious Woman’.

Marc felt now would be a good time to make a return visit to the competition.  His song, ‘Chances’ is an up-tempo, feel good pop song in the style of Take That.  It will be performed in sixth and final position on the night.

Eurosong 2008 will be presented by Ray D’Arcy, who Eurovision fans will remember as the presenter of ‘You're A Star’ in the years it selected the Irish entrants.

The live show will be broadcast from 7pm to 8pm and voting lines will open (phone and text) only after all six acts have performed. The public will then decide which song will represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest on 20 May.

Telephone numbers and text numbers will not be announced until the night. However, Galway audiences are being asked to stay tuned to the programme for voting information and to vote for ‘Chances’ to represent Ireland in 2008.

All six songs will be featured on a RTE Radio One radio show a couple of days before Saturday.

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