Westlife Star Fails To Reach Eurovision Final

Eurovision's most successful country will not be competing in the contest on Saturday after former Westlife star Nicky Byrne failed to qualify.

The Irish singer performed his song Sunlight in Thursday night's semi-final in Stockholm, Sweden, as he tried to secure one of the last 10 places in the final.

But despite Byrne saying he "gave it my all", he will not be joining the UK contestants Joe and Jake who have an automatic place among the 26 finalists.

Byrne tweeted: " Amazing Time Amazing Support / I gave it my all, I'm sorry I didn't get us there./ I pass on the torch to someone else now next year."

Ireland has won Eurovision a total of seven times.

Successful countries were Latvia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Australia, Ukraine, Serbia, Poland, Israel, Lithuania and Belgium.

But other hopefuls going home disappointed were Denmark, Switzerland, Belarus, Macedonia, Slovenia, Norway and Albania.

The UK's place in the final is assured because they are one of the "big five" - the countries that founded the competition.

Ireland's Eurovision fortunes have waned over the past few years, especially since the introduction of the weeknight semi-final rounds.

In 2007, Ireland came last for the first time ever, scoring just five points for Dervish's They Can't Stop The Spring.

Ryan Dolan also finished last in 2013 with Only Love Survives, which was the last time the country made it through to the final.

As they prepare to take their place among the Eurovision finalists, Joe and Jake tweeted: "Bring on Saturday".

Graham Norton is expected to pay tribute to former host Sir Terry Wogan, who died earlier this year, when he helms the British broadcast of the contest.

In a Eurovision first, US singer Justin Timberlake will add some global superstar power to the finale.