When asked about his participation in 2018, Ryan responded:

“I wrote the song for the artist who performed the year before me…so that song was written for Brendan Murray.”

He went on to explain: “Brendan’s manager, Louis Walsh, didn’t like the song and they chose a song from a famous songwriter” and joked sarcastically, “…because if it comes from a famous songwriter, surely it’s better“.

Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and X Factor UK judge, who has been responsible for many Irish and British pop acts, such as Boyzone, Westlife, Girls Aloud and Jedward!

When ‘Together‘ was eventually selected for 2018, Ryan’s initial response to the search for a singer was that he didn’t wish to participate.  The search for another performer proved unsuccessful.  Ryan explained what happened next:

“In the end I said, you know what, I’ll do it…but under one condition.  I want to have control over the performance.  I want to have control over the way the song is produced, how we look, what the message is….that’s why I was able to have two male dancers on the stage.“

Ryan’s creative instincts proved successful, when ‘Together‘ created quite a buzz at the 2018 contest, spreading its theme of ‘Love is Love’ and featuring a gay couple in its music video and staging.  It was Ireland’s first qualification to the grand final since another Ryan’s last place finish in the 2013 contest (Ryan Dolan, ‘Only Love Survives‘).  Team Ireland achieved a very respectable 16th place in Eurovision 2018.

Watch the full interview below, or skip to 29:25 to hear the section about Ryan’s Eurovision experience.