Dublin-based singer Andrew Mann and a duet of traditional balladeers Celtic Whisper and singer Maria McCool have been announced as the final acts who will look to represent Ireland in the Eurovision.
The pair will have the daunting task of taking on last year’s winners Jedward who finished eighth in the Eurovision finals and are already hot favourites to go through.
The other two acts are Donna McCaul, one half of the brother-sister combination who represented Ireland in the Eurovision in 2005, and a duet featuring Una Gibney, the singer with the band Boogie Nights, and David Shannon who has appeared in several West End musicals.
Andrew Mann, who is described on his own website as an "extraordinary and gifted Irish singer", will be mentored by Greg French from The Brilliant Things and will sing French's own composition Here I Am.
Celtic Whisper with Maria McCool will be mentored by Edele Barrett who used to be in the band B*Witched. She has written their entry Mistaken.
Jedward, who are being mentored by former Eurovision winner Linda Martin, will sing Waterline by Swedish songwriter Nick Jarl who has already penned several songs for the twins.
They have immediately been installed at 4/11 by Paddy Power bookmakers. Andrew Mann and Donna McCaul are joint second favourites at 5/1.
McCaul will sing Mercy by a Swedish production team Marten Ericsson and others. Her song has been described as a "big dance track in the style of a club anthem".
Una Gibney and David Shannon will sing Language of Love written by their mentor Julian Benson and by Eanan Patterson.
The first airing of all the songs will be on RTÉ's Mooney Show tomorrow afternoon at 3pm.
The national winner will be selected on Eurosong 2012 on the Late Late Show on Friday February 24th.
This year’s Eurovision will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in May, with Ireland competing in the first semi-final on Tuesday May 22nd.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/365cc36e-0bb8-4fb2-871b-ed273b2b038f.png)