Campaign groups have welcomed the decision by RTÉ to withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
The organisation said it would not broadcast next year’s competition if Israel competed.
This a move that prevents Ireland’s own entry under Eurovision rules.
It confirmed its decision on Thursday night after the European Broadcasting Union said Israel would be allowed to take part.
The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) posted a message online saying: “Well done RTE.”
People attend a pro-Palestine protest outside the RTE in Dublin
Boycott the Eurovision
Its chairperson, Zoe Lawlor, said the group had been calling on the broadcaster to boycott the event for two years.
She said: “We very much welcome RTE standing firm in their decision and reiterating that they will neither participate in Eurovision 2026 nor broadcast it.”
However former Minister Alan Shatter criticised the move, saying it was an “international embarrassment”.
Former justice minister Alan Shatter has described the move as an ‘international embarrassment’
Impact of Boycotting the Eurovision
He claimed it would “deny Irish artists of the career boosting opportunity to compete.
Furthermore, he said it would strip the Irish public of both the enjoyment of our doing so and voting for their preferred song”.
The Dublin Broadcasting branch of the National Union of Journalists also welcomed the decision.
“We agree that to participate would be unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza."
Furthermore, he referenced the targeted killing of journalists, and Israel’s continued denial of international media access to Gaza.”
By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association
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