IRELAND -An Irish band called The Rua have been tipped to represent Ireland at the Eurovision next year — 50 years after their auntie Dana won the competition. The three-piece are celebrating after they entered the US Billboard Top 50 with their latest single. But the Irish Sun can reveal The Rua have set their sights set on Eurovision next May, exactly 50 years since Dana, aka Rosemary Scallon, won for Ireland with All Kinds Of Everything.

RTE’s closing date for song submissions to be Ireland’s Eurovision entry for 2020 was last Friday, October 25. The broadcaster is set to make their selection in the next ten days. The three Brown siblings — sisters Roseanna and Alanna and brother Jonathan — have just completed a 30-date Arena tour with Westlife.

FAMILY TIES

A source said: “RTE got a really great response to Eurovision entries. There’s every chance that Ireland could top the juries in Holland again on the anniversary of Dana’s first win there for Ireland. There would be a huge media interest in Dana’s nephews and nieces taking her place exactly 50 years later and representing Ireland at Eurovision.”

In their call out, RTE stressed that Ireland’s Eurovision entry must have “prior experience of performing in public in front of large crowds.”Confidence and attitude are definite advantages”.

SUPPORTIVE AUNTIE

Alanna Brown said their auntie has always backed them to make it to the top. She said: “She has always been very supportive and if we have any questions we go to her.”

Roseanna added: “She (Dana) wants us to stand on our own six feet, and didn’t want to get in the way, in any way at all. She’s there to support us, we know that. She’s interested in the songs, in everything we do, and she’s there to give us advice. She wants us to have the freedom to be The Rua, and that’s it, basically.”

Dana previously revealed how she suffered “a complete breakdown” after winning Eurovision.

DANA WON EUROVISION IN 1970

The singer was just 18 when she was catapulted to international fame in 1970, winning the contest in front of a TV audience of 200million people with All Kinds of Everything. However, the entertainer — as well as getting a singing career from her win — used her Eurovision fame as an MEP, winning a seat in the European Parliament in 1999. Friends say Dana could return to Rotterdam in Holland next May, a short distance from where she won in The Hague in 1970, to relive her Eurovision triumph.