RTÉ has received almost 150 entries for its Eurosong 2008 competition from composers and performers seeking to represent Ireland at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Serbia.
The deadline for submissions was yesterday and the national final has been overhauled this year in a bid to restore pride following Ireland's last place position in Eurovision 2007.
Following a major review, RTÉ executives reverted to an old style format whereby both writers and performers were encouraged to submit a song package.
The State broadcaster is keen to ensure Ireland has a better chance this year and demanding guidelines for entrants were drawn up, that required a key emphasis on innovation, visual presentation and stage craft.
The number of entries is down from last year's competition when about 200 songs were submitted by composers for traditional Irish group, Dervish.
Dervish was selected by entertainment commissioners at RTÉ to represent Ireland in Finland last May and similarly, Brian Kennedy, did the honours for the broadcaster in 2006, coming 10th in the final in Athens.
Prior to this system, the winner from the television talent show, You're A Star, carried the Irish flag at the euro pop festival.
A spokeswoman for RTÉ said a shortlist of six songs will be chosen for Eurosong 2008 and they will be performed at a live Saturday night television final next month.
The spokeswoman added that RTÉ was very pleased with the number of songs it had received since details of the new format were announced in November.
Dublin songwriter, Raymond Smyth, who co-wrote Ireland's Eurovision 2000 entry, Millennium of Love, said he has spent more than €5,000 on his Eurosong 2008 entry about the environment. Mr Smyth said the money was spent assembling a talented group of musicians, making a CD and also on a DVD.
Another successful composer, Galway-based accountant Niall Mooney, also confirmed he has submitted a track and said it would be fronted by You're A Star 2004 finalist, Jean Elliott.
The Irish Times columnist, John Waters, co-wrote Ireland's Eurovision song last year, They can't stop the Spring, but said he did not take part this year.
Mr Waters said: "I think this is a better strategy as it is very important to have something that's visually coherent, properly choreographed and theatrically developed.
"It's also vital to put the song out there before the Eurovision takes place, so that people have heard it previously and not just for the first time."
Members of a preliminary RTÉ panel will begin listening to the 2008 entries this week and a final judging committee of industry figures will then select the best six.