The Spin

Ireland's number one builder, entertainer, singer, songwriter and comedian, among other things...The Dublin turkey has an impressive CV, having run for president of Ireland, recorded with Bob Geldof and made a career out of insulting Pat Kenny and mocking Leitrim. But the puppet will have to pull some strings if he wants to make it to Belgrade. Bill Hughes, chairman of the judging panel, said Irish voters would have a very strong field to choose from.

Pre-contest hot favourite Dustin the Turkey won the Irish final with the song Irelande Douze Pointe. The popular puppet will now go on to represent Ireland in the first Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade on Tuesday 20th of May.
Dustin the Turkey is a top class popstar, builder, politician and Irish TV personality. He has been a star since the 1990's when he joined RTÉ's children's television programme The Den with fellow furry friends Zig and Zag. He currently presents "The Once A Week Show" with Sinéad Ní Churnáin on Saturday mornings on RTÉ Two television.

A multi-talented Turkey, Dustin has enjoyed considerable chart success in Ireland and has released six albums and twelve singles. He's had numerous Number Ones and has sung with Bob Geldof, Chris De Burgh, Boyzone and Irish Showband legend Joe Dolan to name but a few and has had Irish sales in excess of 25 times platinum.

Not one to rest on his feathers, Dustin has also dabbled in the political arena and has run mock campaigns for a number of Irish presidential elections as a representative of 'Fianna Fowl' and also of the 'Poultry Party'. Although he has never been an official candidate, in the 1997 Irish presidential election hundreds of voters spoiled their votes by writing Dustin's name on their ballot papers. Dustin is now keen to expand his political activities throughout Europe and says he is currently engaged in talks with many major European political parties in relation to launching a bid for the presidency of the EU. Commenting on these ambitions Dustin said, "As my good friend Dana has already been an MEP, there's now a tradition of Irish birds from Eurovision ending up in Brussels - so yes I can declare that a vote for Ireland in this year's Eurovision is in fact a vote for a greater Europe as it will without question catapult me to my rightful place as President Of Europe".

Dustin believes there is a direct link between the recent downturn in Ireland's economy and Ireland's poor showing in the Eurovision over the last number of years. He returned to the recording studio in an effort to restore his nation's position as the High Kings of Eurovision. He says it's a selfless act based on his desire to help his country, "The truth is that over the last decade Ireland has had another famine, only this time it's not the potatoes that died but our rich and glorious tradition of Eurovision hits. So, as ever, the onus of restoring our nation to greatness has fallen on my wings".Dustin hopes the people of Europe will unite to the turkey beat of "Irelande Douze Pointe".VIVA EUROPOP! VIVA POULTRY! VIVA IRELAND! VIVA EUROVISION!
Dustin will be joined by Kathleen Burke and Anne Harrington to perform Irelande Douze Pointe.