Ireland's Eurovision Song Contest entry Lesley Roy reacts to the competition being cancelled

The team behind Ireland's entry into the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 have reacted to the competition's cancellation.

Lesley Roy will no longer sing her track Story Of My Life in Rotterdam on May 16 due to the Coronavirus pandemic causing the music extravaganza's cancellation.

"I entered Story of My Life into the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 to spread the message that we can overcome difficulties in life and we can be triumphant again," began Lesley in a statement on social media.

"We have to continue to believe in ourselves and stay uplifted especially when we feel knocked down. My heart goes out to my fellow artists and Eurovision fans."

Love you all! @McMahonPhilly @thisispopbaby @CompanyPhilipCo pic.twitter.com/Qn98bzeHnI

— lesley roy (@lesleyroyreal) March 18, 2020

Lesley also hinted at coming back in 2021 to fly the flag for the Republic of Ireland once more. Several countries such as Bulgaria and Spain have confirmed they are to re-send their 2020 entrants.

"I will always be proud to answer the call to represent my beautiful country of Ireland whatever year! I want to thank the people of Ireland and everywhere in the world for your support, it means so much to me."

Ireland's head of delegation at RTÉ Michael Kealy commented: "The cancellation of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam is disappointing but completely understandable in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. 

"We were all very excited about how this years' entry was shaping up. We’re disappointed for Lesley and the whole creative team behind Story of My Life which we felt was an offering with huge potential representing Ireland."

Lesley partnered with respected theatre and events producers THISISPOPBABY on the creative direction for Lesley's staging, a first for the Irish delegation. They are "heartbroken" not to be able to showcase "such vivid beauty" they had been working on. The company's director Philly McMahon said they were "cooking up some serious magic", while visuals director Kev Freeney was optimistic about everyone working together at next years contest should Lesley be selected to return.

© IRMA