# Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003

Ireland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 with the song "We've Got the World", written by Martin Brannigan and Keith Molloy, and performed by Mickey Joe Harte. The Irish participating broadcaster, Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ), organised the competition You're a Star in order to select its entry for the contest. The broadcaster returned to the contest after a one-year absence following their relegation in 2002 as one of the bottom six entrants in 2001. The competition consisted of 20 shows and concluded with a final, resulting in the selection of "We've Got the World" performed by Mickey Joe Harte as the Irish Eurovision entry after facing a public televote.
Ireland competed in the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 24 May 2003. Performing during the show in position 3, Ireland placed eleventh out of the 26 participating countries, scoring 53 points.

## Background

Prior to the 2003 contest, Radio Éireann (RÉ) until 1966, and Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ) since 1967, had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Ireland thirty-six times since RÉ's first entry in 1965. They have won the contest a record seven times in total. Their first win came in 1970, with "All Kinds of Everything" performed by Dana. Ireland holds the record for being the only country to win the contest three times in a row (in 1992, 1993, and 1994), as well as having the only three-time winner (Johnny Logan, who won in 1980 as a singer, 1987 as a singer-songwriter, and again in 1992 as a songwriter). In 2001, "Without Your Love" performed by Gary O'Shaughnessy placed twenty-first.
As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, RTÉ organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. The broadcaster has consistently used a national final procedure to choose its entry at the contest, with several artists and songs being featured. RTÉ confirmed its intentions to participate at the 2003 contest on 2 September 2002. For the 2003 contest, the broadcaster announced alongside its participation that both the song and performer for the contest would be selected via the talent contest You're a Star.

## Before Eurovision
### You're a Star

RTÉ selected its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 through the first season of the music competition series You're a Star, which was developed by RTÉ and co-produced with ShinAwil Productions. The shows took place in the Mahoney Hall of the Helix in the Dublin City University (DCU), hosted by Ray D'Arcy and featured a judging panel composed of composer and musician Phil Coulter, television personality and former member of Atomic Kitten Kerry Katona, music publicist Darren Smith and music manager Louis Walsh. The competition consisted of 20 shows, which commenced on 3 November 2002 and concluded on 8 March 2003. All shows in the competition were broadcast on RTÉ One.
The competition took place over two phases. The first phase involved over 5,000 candidates attending auditions held across Ireland in Dún Laoghaire, Belfast, Dundalk, Cork, Killarney, Kilkenny, Galway, Derry, and South Dublin. The first ten shows showcased the auditions and selected a total of 13 contestants to go forward to the next stage in the competition. Nine of the contestants were selected following a public televote (one per audition city) with the remaining four selected by the judging panel (one per judge). The second phase was the ten live shows where the results of all shows were determined solely by a public televote; the judging panel participated in an advisory role only. Following the seventh show, the four contestants remaining in the competition were matched with a potential Eurovision Song Contest song selected by two of the competition judges Phil Coulter and Louis Walsh from entries received through established composers approached by RTÉ. The public televote that took place in both phases was conducted through telephone and SMS.
Competing songs :
| Song | Songwriter(s) |
| "A Better Plan" | Brian McFadden |
| "I Couldn't Love You More" | Ronan Keating, Callum MacColl, Brian Kennedy |
| "I'll Still Be Right Here" | Louise Wallace |
| "We've Got the World" | Martin Brannigan, Keith Molloy |

#### Results summary
##### Colour key

    – Contestant received the most public votes
    – Contestant received the fewest public votes and was eliminated
| Contestant | Show 1 | Show 2 | Show 3 | Show 4 | Show 5 | Show 6 | Show 7 | Show 8 | Show 9 | Show 10 (Final) |
| Mickey Harte | — | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| Simon Casey | — | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd |
| Michael Leonard | 3rd | — | 6th | 4th | 3rd | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 3rd | Eliminated (Show 9) |
| Lisa Bresnan | 1st | — | 4th | 3rd | 4th | 3rd | 3rd | 4th | Eliminated (Show 8) | Eliminated (Show 8) |
| Brian Ormond | — | 1st | 3rd | 5th | 6th | 4th | 5th/6th | Eliminated (Show 7) | Eliminated (Show 7) | Eliminated (Show 7) |
| Shauna and Caoimhe McElhinney | 2nd | — | 7th | 8th | 5th | 6th | 5th/6th | Eliminated (Show 7) | Eliminated (Show 7) | Eliminated (Show 7) |
| Sarah Brophy | 4th | — | 9th | 7th | 7th | 7th | Eliminated (Show 6) | Eliminated (Show 6) | Eliminated (Show 6) | Eliminated (Show 6) |
| Susan McFadden | — | 4th | 5th | 6th | 8th | Eliminated (Show 5) | Eliminated (Show 5) | Eliminated (Show 5) | Eliminated (Show 5) | Eliminated (Show 5) |
| Joanne Fahy | — | 5th | 8th | 9th | Eliminated (Show 4) | Eliminated (Show 4) | Eliminated (Show 4) | Eliminated (Show 4) | Eliminated (Show 4) | Eliminated (Show 4) |
| Azi Jegbefume | 6th | — | 10th/11th | Eliminated (Show 3) | Eliminated (Show 3) | Eliminated (Show 3) | Eliminated (Show 3) | Eliminated (Show 3) | Eliminated (Show 3) | Eliminated (Show 3) |
| Catherine Yore | 5th | — | 10th/11th | Eliminated (Show 3) | Eliminated (Show 3) | Eliminated (Show 3) | Eliminated (Show 3) | Eliminated (Show 3) | Eliminated (Show 3) | Eliminated (Show 3) |
| Susan McGowan | — | 6th | Eliminated (Show 2) | Eliminated (Show 2) | Eliminated (Show 2) | Eliminated (Show 2) | Eliminated (Show 2) | Eliminated (Show 2) | Eliminated (Show 2) | Eliminated (Show 2) |
| Catriona McGinty | 7th | Eliminated (Show 1) | Eliminated (Show 1) | Eliminated (Show 1) | Eliminated (Show 1) | Eliminated (Show 1) | Eliminated (Show 1) | Eliminated (Show 1) | Eliminated (Show 1) | Eliminated (Show 1) |

#### Audition shows

Audition Show 1: South Dublin – 3 November 2002 :
| Draw | Artist | Age | From | Song (Original artists) | Result |
| 1 | Roisin Cooper | 18 | Bailieboro, County Cavan | "More Than a Woman" (911) | Eliminated |
| 2 | Rosemarie Farrell | 17 | Dunboyne, County Meath | "Angel" (Sarah McLachlan) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Azi Jegbefume | 18 | Tallaght, Dublin 24 | "My Love is Your Love" (Whitney Houston) | Advanced |
| 4 | Niall Whelehan | 17 | Newbridge, County Kildare | "In My Place" (Coldplay) | Eliminated |
| 5 | Alan Foran | 20 | Dundalk, County Louth | "Escape" (Enrique Iglesias) | Eliminated |
| 6 | Dee Daly | 21 | Donnycarney, Dublin 5 | "A Woman's Worth" (Alicia Keys) | Eliminated |
| 7 | Joe Kiernan | 22 | Gorey, County Wexford | "True Companion" (Marc Cohn) | Eliminated |
| 8 | Brian Pemberton | 18 | Tallaght, Dublin 24 | "Wonderful Tonight" (Eric Clapton) | Eliminated |
Audition Show 2: Belfast – 10 November 2002 :
| Draw | Artist | Age | From | Song (Original artists) | Result |
| 1 | Rachel Hogg | 19 | Letterkenny, County Donegal | "It Must Have Been Love" (Roxette) | Eliminated |
| 2 | Michelle Howard | 16 | Coleraine, County Londonderry | "What Can I Do" (The Corrs) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Paul Lau | 17 | Cushendall, County Antrim | "All I Want Is You" (U2) | Eliminated |
| 4 | Chris Woods | 19 | Portrush, County Antrim | "Desperado" (Eagles) | Eliminated |
| 5 | Jill & Dawn Petticrew | Both 25 | Belfast | "Take a Chance on Me" (Abba) | Eliminated |
| 6 | Marion Kelly | 18 | Moyross, County Limerick | "Wind Beneath My Wings" (Bette Midler) | Eliminated |
| 7 | Michael Leonard | 22 | Belcoo, County Fermanagh | "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Guns N' Roses) | Advanced |
| 8 | Terry Keeley | 16 | Belfast | "When You Say Nothing at All" (Ronan Keating) | Eliminated |
Audition Show 3: Dundalk – 17 November 2002 :
| Draw | Artist | Age | From | Song (Original artists) | Result |
| 1 | Nicola Cassidy | 19 | Drogheda, County Louth | "River Deep, Mountain High" (Tina Turner) | Eliminated |
| 2 | Siobhan McDonnell | 16 | Dundalk, County Louth | "Songbird" (Eva Cassidy) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Aoife Blake | | Bray, County Wicklow | "Son of a Preacher Man" (Dusty Springfield) | Eliminated |
| 4 | Sharon O'Hanlon | 25 | Finglas, County Dublin | "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" (Celine Dion) | Eliminated |
| 5 | Emma Jenkinson | 17 | Tandragee, County Armagh | "Walking in Memphis" (Cher) | Eliminated |
| 6 | Heather Lynas | 16 | Dundonald, County Down | "Show Me Heaven" (Maria McKee) | Eliminated |
| 7 | Catherine Yore | 17 | Kells, County Meath | "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Aretha Franklin) | Advanced |
| 8 | Julie Cunnane | 17 | Dundalk, County Louth | "Like a Prayer" (Madonna) | Eliminated |
Audition Show 4: Cork – 24 November 2002 :
| Draw | Artist | Age | From | Song (Original artists) | Result |
| 1 | Serena Lee | 16 | County Cork | "I Turn to You" (Christina Aguilera) | Eliminated |
| 2 | Colin Melsop | 20 | Carrigaline, County Cork | "I Can't Make You Love Me" (George Michael) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Sarah Brophy | 18 | Bandon, County Cork | "I Say a Little Prayer" (Aretha Franklin) | Advanced |
| 4 | Leonne Mulryan | 17 | Cork, County Cork | "Fields of Gold" (Eva Cassidy) | Eliminated |
| 5 | Greg Ryan | 18 | Prospect, County Limerick | "Flying Without Wings" (Westlife) | Eliminated |
| 6 | Donna Keohan | 18 | County Waterford | "How Do I Live" (LeAnn Rimes) | Eliminated |
| 7 | Rebecca O'Connor | 27 | Cobh, County Cork | "Ain't No Sunshine" (Bill Withers) | Eliminated |
| 8 | Karl Fradgley | 25 | Douglas Street, County Cork | "I Can't Make You Love Me" (George Michael) | Eliminated |
Audition Show 5: Kilkenny – 1 December 2002 :
| Draw | Artist | Age | From | Song (Original artists) | Result |
| 1 | Natasha Croghan | 16 | County Roscommon | "Get Here" (Oleta Adams) | Eliminated |
| 2 | Jason Paul Ryan | 24 | Liverpool | "American Pie" (Don McLean) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Trevor O'Neill | 23 | County Kilkenny | "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (George Michael) | Eliminated |
| 4 | Ellen Cosgrove | 17 | Donnybrook, Dublin | "Ain't No Sunshine" (Bill Withers) | Eliminated |
| 5 | Sharon Malloy | 28 | Castlecomer, County Kilkenny | "Over the Rainbow" (Eva Cassidy) | Eliminated |
| 6 | Chris Doran | 22 | Waterford, County Waterford | "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" (Tom Jones) | Eliminated |
| 7 | Shauna and Caoimhe McElhinney | Both 16 | County Cork | "I Know Him So Well" (Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson) | Advanced |
| 8 | Katrina Lee | 16 | Belfast | "When I Fall in Love" (Nat King Cole) | Eliminated |
Audition Show 6: Galway – 8 December 2002 :
| Draw | Artist | Age | From | Song (Original artists) | Result |
| 1 | Frank Naughton | 30 | Galway City, County Galway | "This Is the Moment" (Chuck Wagner) | Eliminated |
| 2 | Chris Farragher | 22 | County Mayo | "Just Looking" (Stereophonics) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Sandi McCash | 23 | Galway, County Galway | "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (U2) | Eliminated |
| 4 | Adrian Kenny | 23 | Mayfield, County Cork | "Unchained Melody" (The Righteous Brothers) | Eliminated |
| 5 | Susan McGowan | 19 | Athlone, County Westmeath | "Hot Stuff" (Donna Summer) | Advanced |
| 6 | Susan Sheahan | 18 | Mallow, County Cork | "I Hope You Dance" (Lee Ann Womack) | Eliminated |
| 7 | Lisa Bresnan | 22 | Limerick, Co. Limerick | "Thank U" (Alanis Morissette) | Eliminated |
| 8 | David Moore | 16 | Dublin | "Dancing in the Moonlight" (Toploader) | Eliminated |
Audition Show 7: Derry – 15 December 2002 :
| Draw | Artist | Age | From | Song (Original artists) | Result |
| 1 | Marie-Threse Martin | 17 | Derry City, County Londonderry | "I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You" (Tom Waits) | Eliminated |
| 2 | Gavin Quinn | 21 | Cookstown, County Tyrone | "The River" (Garth Brooks) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Leonna Lees | 24 | Magherafelt, County Londonderry | "Black Is the Colour" (Christy Moore) | Eliminated |
| 4 | 4D (Paul Donaghy, Andrew Donaghy, Aidan Donaghy & Martin Delaney) | | Dungannon, County Tyrone | "Full Force Gale" (Elvis Costello) | Eliminated |
| 5 | Eoin O'Callaghan | 23 | Derry City, County Londonderry | "Let It Be" (The Beatles) | Eliminated |
| 6 | Justin McGurk | 28 | Cookstown, County Tyrone | "Superman (It's Not Easy)" (Five for Fighting) | Eliminated |
| 7 | Catriona McGinty | 26 | Strabane, County Tyrone | "Heartache Tonight" (Eagles) | Eliminated |
| 8 | Mickey Harte | 29 | Lifford, County Donegal | "I Won't Back Down" (Tom Petty) | Advanced |
Audition Show 8: Kilarney – 22 December 2002 :
| Draw | Artist | Age | From | Song (Original artists) | Result |
| 1 | Una O'Riordan | 21 | Kanturk, County Cork | "Love, Me" (Collin Raye) | Eliminated |
| 2 | Rosaleen Herlihy | 25 | Cork, County Cork | "Secret Love" (Doris Day) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Derek McMahon | 26 | Sixmilebridge, County Clare | "Endless Love" (Lionel Richie & Diana Ross) | Eliminated |
| 4 | Catraoine Hickey | 16 | Cork, County Cork | "Fallin'" (Alicia Keys) | Eliminated |
| 5 | Kelly Hunter | 18 | County Cork | "Any Man of Mine" (Shania Twain) | Eliminated |
| 6 | Fiona O'Neill | 18 | County Kerry | "You Raise Me Up" (Secret Garden) | Eliminated |
| 7 | Joanne Fahy | 20 | Croom, County Limerick | "Breathless" (The Corrs) | Advanced |
| 8 | Steve Martyn | 31 | Navan, County Meath | "All Rise" (Blue) | Eliminated |
Audition Show 9: North Dublin – 29 December 2002 :
| Draw | Artist | Age | From | Song (Original artists) | Result |
| 1 | Sarah Corcoran | 17 | Galway, County Galway | "Sunny Afternoon" (The Kinks) | Eliminated |
| 2 | Cara McDowell | 28 | County Dublin | "Baby Now That I've Found You" (The Foundations) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Brenda Dunican | 23 | County Offaly | "No Frontiers" (Jimmy MacCarthy) | Eliminated |
| 4 | V10 (Marc O'Neill and Shane Butler) | | | "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (Marvin Gaye) | Eliminated |
| 5 | Sinead Hand | 18 | County Dublin | "Mama Said" (Metallica) | Eliminated |
| 6 | Simon Casey | 23 | County Offaly | "Right Here Waiting" (Richard Marx) | Advanced |
| 7 | Brian Ormond | 23 | Clondalkin, County Dublin | "Mandy" (Barry Manilow) | Eliminated |
| 8 | Susan McFadden | 19 | Dublin | "Flashdance... What a Feeling" (Irene Cara) | Eliminated |
The Story So Far – 5 January 2003 :
| Judge | Choice |
| Darren Smith | Lisa Bresnan |
| Phil Coulter | Catriona McGinty |
| Louis Walsh | Brian Ormond |
| Kerry McFadden | Susan McFadden |

#### Live shows

The ten live shows took place between 5 January and 8 March 2003. The first seven shows featured various themes: free choice for the first three shows, Irish rock songs for the fourth show, Irish folk/traditional songs for the fifth show, love songs for the sixth show and American songs for the seventh show. Either one or two contestants were eliminated in each of the seven shows. The four remaining contestants each performed their candidate Eurovision songs starting from the eighth show and one contestant was eliminated during each of the eighth and ninth shows. "We've Got the World" performed by Mickey Harte was selected as the winner following the final show and announced the day after on 9 March 2003. 1.3 million televotes were cast during the final show.
Show 1 – 12 January 2003 :
| Draw | Artist | Song (Original artists) | Place | Result |
| 1 | Shauna and Caoimhe McElhinney | "I Know Him So Well" | 2 | Advanced |
| 2 | Sarah Brophy | "I Say a Little Prayer" (Karine Costa and Aretha Franklin) | 4 | Advanced |
| 3 | Azi Jegbefume | "My Love is Your Love" (Whitney Houston) | 6 | Advanced |
| 4 | Lisa Bresnan | "Thank U" (Alanis Morissette) | 1 | Advanced |
| 5 | Michael Leonard | "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Guns n' Roses) | 3 | Advanced |
| 6 | Catherine Yore | "Natural Woman" (Aretha Franklin) | 5 | Advanced |
| 7 | Catriona McGinty | "Heartache Tonight" (The Eagles) | 7 | Eliminated |
Show 2 – 19 January 2003 :
| Draw | Artist | Song (Original artists) | Place | Result |
| 1 | Simon Casey | "Right Here Waiting" (Richard Marx) | 2 | Advanced |
| 2 | Joanne Fahy | "Talking in Your Sleep" (Crystal Gayle) | 5 | Advanced |
| 3 | Brian Ormond | "Mandy" (Barry Manilow) | 1 | Advanced |
| 4 | Susan McGowan | "Hot Stuff" (Donna Summer) | 6 | Eliminated |
| 5 | Mickey Harte | "I Won't Back Down" (Tom Petty) | 3 | Advanced |
| 6 | Susan McFadden | "Flashdance... What a Feeling" (Irene Cara) | 4 | Advanced |
Show 3 – 26 January 2003 :
| Draw | Artist | Song (Original artists) | Place | Result |
| 1 | Azi Jegbefume | "You Gotta Be" (Des'ree) | 11-12 | Eliminated |
| 2 | Michael Leonard | "Vincent" (Don McLean) | 6 | Advanced |
| 3 | Catherine Yore | "From a Distance" (Bette Midler) | 11-12 | Eliminated |
| 4 | Sarah Brophy | "It Must Have Been Love" (Roxette) | 9 | Advanced |
| 5 | Shauna and Caoimhe McElhinney | "Cruisin'" (Smokey Robinson) | 7 | Advanced |
| 6 | Lisa Bresnan | "Angel" (Sarah McLachlan) | 4 | Advanced |
| 7 | Mickey Harte | "The Joker" (Steve Miller) | 2 | Advanced |
| 8 | Joanne Fahy | "Torn" (Natalie Imbruglia) | 8 | Advanced |
| 9 | Simon Casey | "Desperado" (The Eagles) | 1 | Advanced |
| 10 | Susan McFadden | "We've Got Tonight" (Bob Seger) | 5 | Advanced |
| 11 | Brian Ormond | "Heaven" (Bryan Adams) | 3 | Advanced |
Show 4 – 2 February 2003 :
| Draw | Artist | Song (Original artists) | Place | Result |
| 1 | Michael Leonard | "One" (U2) | 4 | Advanced |
| 2 | Sarah Brophy | "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (U2) | 7 | Advanced |
| 3 | Shauna and Caoimhe McElhinney | "A Good Heart" (Fergal Sharkey) | 8 | Advanced |
| 4 | Lisa Bresnan | "Crazy Love" (Van Morrison) | 3 | Advanced |
| 5 | Mickey Harte | "Teenage Kicks" (The Undertones) | 2 | Advanced |
| 6 | Joanne Fahy | "Dreams" (The Corrs) | 9 | Eliminated |
| 7 | Simon Casey | "Sarah" (Thin Lizzy) | 1 | Advanced |
| 8 | Susan McFadden | "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Sinéad O'Connor) | 6 | Advanced |
| 9 | Brian Ormond | "Have I Told You Lately" (Van Morrison) | 5 | Advanced |
Show 5 – 9 February 2003 :
| Draw | Artist | Song (Original artists) | Place | Result |
| 1 | Michael Leonard | "Green Fields of France" (The Fureys) | 3 | Advanced |
| 2 | Sarah Brophy | "Katie" (Jimmy MacCarthy) | 7 | Advanced |
| 3 | Shauna and Caoimhe McElhinney | "Neidin" (Jimmy MacCarthy) | 5 | Advanced |
| 4 | Lisa Bresnan | "Ride On" (Jimmy MacCarthy) | 4 | Advanced |
| 5 | Mickey Harte | "The Island" (Paul Brady) | 2 | Advanced |
| 6 | Simon Casey | "Scorn Not His Simplicity" (Phil Coulter) | 1 | Advanced |
| 7 | Susan McFadden | "No Frontiers" (Jimmy MacCarthy) | 8 | Eliminated |
| 8 | Brian Ormond | "Only Our Rivers Run Free" (Planxty) | 6 | Advanced |
Show 6 – 16 February 2003 :
| Draw | Artist | Song (Original artists) | Place | Result |
| 1 | Michael Leonard | "Hello" (Lionel Richie) | 5 | Advanced |
| 2 | Sarah Brophy | "The Rose" (Bette Midler) | 7 | Eliminated |
| 3 | Shauna and Caoimhe McElhinney | "More Than Words" (Extreme) | 6 | Advanced |
| 4 | Lisa Bresnan | "This Year's Love" (David Gray) | 3 | Advanced |
| 5 | Mickey Harte | "Every Breath You Take" (The Police) | 1 | Advanced |
| 6 | Simon Casey | "I Can't Make You Love Me" (Bonnie Raitt) | 2 | Advanced |
| 7 | Brian Ormond | "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" (George Benson) | 4 | Advanced |
Show 7 – 23 February 2003 :
| Draw | Artist | Song (Original artists) | Place | Result |
| 1 | Michael Leonard | "If Tomorrow Never Comes" (Garth Brooks) | 4 | Advanced |
| 2 | Shauna and Caoimhe McElhinney | "Closer to Fine" (Indigo Girls) | 5-6 | Eliminated |
| 3 | Lisa Bresnan | "Your So Vain" (Carly Simon) | 3 | Advanced |
| 4 | Mickey Harte | "Jack and Diane" (John Mellencamp) | 2 | Advanced |
| 5 | Simon Casey | "Lyin' Eyes" (The Eagles) | 1 | Advanced |
| 6 | Brian Ormond | "Amazed" (Lonestar) | 5-6 | Eliminated |
Show 8 – 2 March 2003 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Place | Result |
| 1 | Michael Leonard | "I Couldn't Love You More" | 3 | Advanced |
| 2 | Lisa Bresnan | "I'll Still Be Right Here" | 4 | Eliminated |
| 3 | Mickey Harte | "We've Got the World" | 1 | Advanced |
| 4 | Simon Casey | "A Better Plan" | 2 | Advanced |
Show 9 – 9 March 2003 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Place | Result |
| 1 | Michael Leonard | "I Couldn't Love You More" | 3 | Eliminated |
| 2 | Mickey Harte | "We've Got the World" | 1 | Advanced |
| 3 | Simon Casey | "A Better Plan" | 2 | Advanced |
Final – 16 March 2003 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Place |
| 1 | Mickey Harte | "We've Got the World" | 1 |
| 2 | Simon Casey | "A Better Plan" | 2 |

## At Eurovision

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the bottom five countries in the 2002 contest competed in the final on 24 May 2003. On 29 November 2002, an allocation draw was held which determined the running order and Ireland was set to perform in position 3, following the entry from Austria and before the entry from Turkey. Ireland finished in eleventh place with 53 points.
In Ireland, the show was broadcast on RTÉ One with commentary by Marty Whelan and Phil Coulter. RTÉ appointed Pamela Flood as its spokesperson to announce the Irish votes during the show.

### Voting

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Ireland and awarded by Ireland in the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Norway in the contest.

#### Delayed televoting results

Televoting was provided to viewers in Ireland during the contest, however due to a delay in receiving the full results the votes of an assembled back-up jury were used instead to provide the Irish votes. RTÉ subsequently revealed the top 10 countries from the Irish televoting after the contest.