Eurosong 2008 was the national final format developed by RTÉ in order to select Ireland’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. The competition was held on 23 February 2008 at the University Concert Hall in Limerick and hosted by Ray D’Arcy. The show was broadcast on RTÉ One as well as online via the broadcaster’s official website rte.ie.
Competing entries
On 4 November 2007, RTÉ opened a submission period where artists and composers were able to submit their entries for the competition until 23 January 2008. Artists were also required to submit details regarding the performance or staging details of their entries. At the closing of the deadline, 150 entries were received. The competing entries were selected based on criteria such as the suitability of the song for Eurovision, quality of the performer, experience of the performer and stage appeal of the entry, by a five-member jury panel with members appointed by RTÉ: producer Bill Hughes, singer and songwriter Eleanor McEvoy, singer and former contest winner Charlie McGettigan, agent and choreographer Julian Benson and Irish Eurovision Head of Delegation Julian Vignoles. The six finalists were announced on 3 February 2008 and the songs to be performed by the finalists were presented on 21 February 2008 during The Derek Mooney Show broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1.
Final
The national final featured commentary from a panel that consisted of music manager Louis Walsh and former contest winners Dana Rosemary Scallon and Marija Šerifović. Guest performer was Marija Šerifović performing „Molitva“. Public televoting held in Ireland and Northern Ireland selected „Irelande Douze Pointe“ performed by Dustin the Turkey as the winner.
Final – 23 February 2008
| Draw | Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) | Place |
| 1 | Donal Skehan | „Double Cross My Heart“ | Joel Humlen, Oscar Görres, Charlie Mason | 5 |
| 2 | Dustin the Turkey | „Irelande Douze Pointe“ | Darren Smith, Simon Fine, Dustin the Turkey | 1 |
| 3 | Maja | „Time to Rise“ | Maja Slatinšek, Žiga Pirnat | 6 |
| 4 | Leona Daly | „Not Crazy After All“ | Leona Daly, Steve Booker | 2 |
| 5 | Liam Geddes | „Sometimes“ | Susan Hewitt | 4 |
| 6 | Marc Roberts | „Chances“ | Marc Roberts | 3 |
The winning song „Irelande Douze Pointe“ was released as a CD single, which went on to chart at no. 5 in the Irish Singles Chart.
Controversy
The announcement of Dustin the Turkey as the winner of Eurosong 2008 caused mixed reactions from the hall audience, including audible boos and panellist Dana Rosemary Scallon describing the win as a „mockery of the competition“, as well as that Ireland would be better withdrawing from the competition than sending Dustin. Former contest winning composers Frank McNamara and Shay Healy questioned the legitimacy of the jury panel that selected the six finalists for the competition, with the former stating that RTÉ was „giving two fingers“ to Irish songwriters. Jury chairman Bill Hughes later defended the decision of including Dustin as a finalist, citing his song, which included a „strong female vocal“, was „very funny“ and had a „great melody“.
The controversial nature of his entry „Irelande Douze Pointe“ was also said to have been in breach of the contest rules that could „bring the Shows or the ESC as such into disrepute“. The song was ultimately not disqualified, however the lyrics were edited by EBU demand after the Greek broadcaster ERT complained over the use of „Macedonia“ in the lyrics in light of the Macedonia naming dispute.Dustin’s participation and win at Eurosong 2008 also garnered international media exposure, which he was mentioned in Spanish media and appeared in the United Kingdom on ITV morning programme This Morning during Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Dustin came equal 15th in the 1st ESC Semi-Final. Maya (Maja Slatinšek) was a backing singer for Slovenia in ESC 2006 while Marc Roberts represented Ireland in ESC 1997.