The Irish Final was held on March 9th at the RTE TV Studios in Dublin, hosted by Larry Gogan. The winning song was chosen by the votes of 10 regional juries.
| 1 | Loving won’t let you down | Roy Taylor & Karen Black | 13 |
3rd |
| 2 | Take me back again | Ray Doherty |
2 |
8th |
| 3 | The saddest show on earth | Eileen Reed | 10 |
4th |
| 4 | You’re so cheeky | Peter Eades & Miami |
5 |
5th= |
| 5 | What’s another year | Johnny Logan | 40 |
1st |
| 6 | You have | The Dajacs |
4 |
7th |
| 7 | Stepping stones | Peter Beckett | 21 |
2nd |
| 8 | Love is all there is | Roe-Mance |
5 |
5th= |
Johnny Logan previously came 3rd in the 1979 Irish Final. He went on to win the ESC. Karen Black was a backing singer for Ireland in ESC 1979. The Dajacs included Colm C.T. Wilkinson who represented Ireland in ESC 1978 & Helen Jordan who was a backing singer for Ireland in ESC 1978.