Winner of Eurovision 1994 pledges to return his trophy — as soon as he finds it
The fallout from the European Broadcast Union’s (EBU) decision to let Israel participate in the Eurovision Song Contest has been building ever since the transnational body made the call on December in a meeting at their Geneva headquarters.
The latest callout comes from Ireland’s 1994 Eurovision winner Charlie McGettigan, who has decided to return the trophy he and Paul Harrington received, according to Irish state broadcaster RTÉ.
In a video shared on X by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the musician said he had received a message from 2024 Eurovision champ Nemo — who sent their trophy back on Thursday.
McGettigan said he found Nemo to be “sincere and a very intelligent person” and that they “stated their case very well”. He pledged to return his award in support of the Swiss musician — as soon as he finds it.
Turns out the ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids’ singer has misplaced his trophy. He said, “Unfortunately our win was in 1994 and I can’t lay my hands on whatever trophy we received back then,” and added that, “If I do find it I will return my trophy as well.”
Nemo, in an earlier video had posted about sending their trophy back to the EBU, saying Eurovision was being “used to soften the image of a state accused of severe wrongdoing”.
Citing the competition’s stated values of “unity, inclusion and dignity for all,” they told organisers to, “Live what you claim,” adding that, “If the values we celebrate onstage aren’t lived offstage, then even the most beautiful songs lose their meaning.”
McGettigan’s home country has been front and centre in the movement to get Israel excluded from the annual singing contest, being the second country to threaten a boycott of the event if Israel participates on September 11. The singer himself was one of 70 former Eurovision contestants to sign a letter calling for Israel’s exclusion.
Ireland joined the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain in following through on their threats after last week’s decision. Iceland, which at the time said it was considering a boycott as well, joined the chorus on Wednesday.
Cover photo: Marek Petrovic, Charlie McGettigan/Instagram
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