| Year: | 1997 |
| Country: | Ireland |
| Preselection: | Eurosong |
| Preselection Date: | 9 March 1997 |
| Entrant: | Marc Roberts |
| Song: | Mysterious Woman |
| Final Result: | 2nd, 157 points |
For the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest held in Dublin, Ireland selected Marc Roberts to represent the country with the song "Mysterious Woman".
'Réalta' was a radio song contest started in 1995 by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta exclusively for Irish songs.[1] The first edition of the contest was not related to Eurosong, but from 1996 until 1999, the recent winner of Réalta would qualify to Eurosong. The 3rd edition of Réalta took place on 22 November 1996.[2] The running order and some of the results of Réalta '97 are unknown.[3] [4]
| Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) | Place | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aidan Coleman | "Slán go fóill" | Aidan Coleman, Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa | — | |
| Ann Marie Nic Dhonnchadha | "An t-earrach" | Pádraig Ó Conghaile, Ann Marie Nic Dhonnchadha | — | |
| Art Ó Dufaigh | "Gairm na seirce" | Art Ó Dufaigh | — | |
| Barry Ronan | "Cailín álainn" | P.J. Flaherty, Eugene Killeen | — | |
| Evelyn Curry | "Carnán cloch" | Cathal Ó Catháin, Evelyn Curry | — | |
| Helen Uí Dhunáird | "Uaigneas" | Seán Ó Coisdealbha, Helen Uí Dhunáird, Jane Simmons, Steven Simmons | 1 | |
| Mícheál Ó hAllmhúráin | "Tógaigí sos" | Siobhán Ní Mhurchú, Mícheál Ó hAllmhúráin | — | |
| Nioclás Breathnach | "Saol búca" | Nioclás Breathnach | — | |
| Seán Monaghan | "Cáwockatú" | Seán Monaghan, Danny Monaghan, Maoilre de Búrca | 2 | |
| Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin | "Seo an talamh" | Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin | — |
The final took place on 9 March 1997 at the Institute of Technology in Waterford, hosted by Pat Kenny. Eight entries competed in the final and the winner, "Mysterious Woman" performed by Marc Roberts, was determined by the votes of ten regional juries.[5]
| Draw | Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) | Points | Place | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tommy Quinn | "Good Life" | Teresa Keogh | 59 | 5 | |
| 2 | Miranda | "I Am Here" | Jim Walsh | 48 | 7 | |
| 3 | Darren Holden | "Suddenly" | Darren Holden | 91 | 2 | |
| 4 | Michelle Costelloe | "Never Far Away" | Michelle Costelloe | 45 | 8 | |
| 5 | Helen Uí Dhúnaird | "Uaigneas" | Seán Ó Coisdealbha, Helen Uí Dhunáird, Jane Simmons, Steven Simmons | 54 | 6 | |
| 6 | Gary O'Shaughnessy | "Love and Understanding" | Michael Heffernan, Kevin Smith | 87 | 3 | |
| 7 | Maggie Toal | "My Love" | Tony Adams-Rosa | 67 | 4 | |
| 8 | Marc Roberts | "Mysterious Woman" | John Farry | 99 | 1 |
| Detailed Regional Jury Votes | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draw | Song | Athlone | Ballybunion | Cork | Dublin | Dundalk | Galway | Killybegs | Limerick | Sligo | Waterford | Total | |
| 1 | "Good Life" | 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 59 | |
| 2 | "I Am Here" | 5 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 48 | |
| 3 | "Suddenly" | 10 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 91 | |
| 4 | "Never Far Away" | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 45 | |
| 5 | "Uaigneas" | 4 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 54 | |
| 6 | "Love and Understanding" | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 87 | |
| 7 | "My Love" | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 67 | |
| 8 | "Mysterious Woman" | 12 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 99 | |
Ahead of the contest, Ireland were considered one of the favourites among bookmakers to win the contest for an eighth time, featuring alongside the entries from,, and .[6] Roberts performed 5th in the running order on the night of the contest. "Mysterious Woman" went on to be placed 2nd with 157 points.[7] To date, this was the last time Ireland's Eurovision entry placed in the top five.