Nicola Kerr had represented Ireland in the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest, as a member of The Swarbriggs Plus Two. That entry, "It's Nice To Be In Love Again," came in third place behind France and the United Kingdom. Linda Martin's appearance in the national final selection was her third time as a soloist, and her seventh overall. She was runner-up to Sweden in the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest, and would win the contest in 1992.