The home town of Irish Eurovision entry Bambie Thug is celebrating them bringing the nation back to the grand final for the first time in six years.

The performer secured Ireland’s first qualification for the final of the competition since 2018.

The centre of Macroom, Co Cork has been transformed with a giant screen to allow locals and visitors to watch Saturday’s final together.

The town’s former mayor Connie Foley was among those who had turned out to support Bambie Thug.

He described them as being from a “very talented family”.

“We wish them the best and all the family,” he said.

The performance of Israel’s entry, Hurricane by Eden Golan, was not shown on the big screen in the town.

Instead, a minute of silence was held.

Event organiser James O’Sullivan told the crowd the silence was as a “mark of respect to everybody, our friends in Ukraine, Gaza and every other part of the world that has been affected by warmongers and violence”.

There was spontaneous applause following the silence, and a call for “ceasefire now”.

A demonstration in solidarity with Palestine, and against Israel’s participation in the contest, had been expected to take place in Macroom on Saturday.

The Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign emphasised the gathering is not against the individual representing Ireland, but about showing solidarity with Palestine.