Singer Lyra breaks her silence over Eurovision claims after star reportedly 'fast tracked' on RTE's shortlist
Safe Ireland’s aim is to open those doors and create nationwide county and community-based pathways out of abuse for all
Singer Lyra has rubbished reports she has been “fast tracked to the final” of RTE’s shortlist to represent Ireland at next year’s Eurovision.
According to reports over the weekend, it was claimed the Cork singer was “fast tracked to the final of RTE shortlist” for EuroSong next year.
But Lyra told us: “It’s news to me to be honest.
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“I get asked a lot to do Eurovision. I know there have been petitions signed and set up.
“It’s a massive honour that people want me to represent Ireland. Representing Ireland is amazing. I’m so proud to be Irish and to represent Ireland in the Eurovision is a massive opportunity to try and win.
“I just feel like right now after bringing out album one, I really want to get album two out.
“I’ve already started writing it and I feel like if I was to put my name down to represent Ireland in the Eurovision, I would just be massively distracted because I’m the type of person that once I do something, I’ll do my best to try and go gung-ho with it.
“I feel like adding Eurovision into the mix this year is not for me right now.”
But she said maybe she will consider it for 2026, adding: “You never know. I’m never going to say no.”
Lyra was speaking at the launch of ‘Safe Home, Safe Pathways’ campaign, which is encouraging the Irish public to support their local domestic violence service and calling for all counties across the country to embed domestic violence responses into their local county Development Plans, enabling victims to escape abuse.
The launch coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
As part of the campaign, a symbolic door installation was unveiled on South King Street, Dublin 2 to illustrate the abuse many victims, and their children, endure daily behind closed doors.
Safe Ireland’s aim is to open those doors and create nationwide county and community-based pathways out of abuse for all.
Speaking about the campaign, Lyra said: “I think it is fantastic to be able to use my platform and spread the message and make people aware and try and get a bit more support for Safe Ireland.
“Domestic violence is something that is not and should never be tolerated.
“To give people an option to have in their own community a way out is what is very important about this campaign.
“This is more about taking action. We all probably know people or don’t know people who are going through this so now it is about taking action and standing up and getting each community to have a safe place for people to have the courage to leave these environments and give them an out. That is the main focus of this campaign.
“I’m an artist now. I’ve a great platform. Why not give back and help.
“Definitely more can be done. I think for this the action needs to be local pathways out of abuse. Everyone needs to have that space that is local to them. It is already going to be a very tough time for them to leave this abusive environment.
“It’s hard enough to leave without having to travel further afield in order to get safety.
“It should be provided at their doorstep for them to be able to use,” she added.
Mary McDermott, Safe Ireland CEO, said: “No one should be forced to live in an oppressive home or be trapped in a coercive relationship.
“It is our responsibility as a society to protect and provide for victims of coercive control and domestic violence.
“This ‘Safe Home, Safe Pathways’ campaign aims to raise awareness about the pervasive nature of domestic violence in Ireland and local frontline support services, and directly calls on every county, town and city to embed domestic violence responses into their Development Plans. “There are 62 actions set out clearly in the National Strategy, Zero Tolerance which require full implementation at local level.
“We want to thank Airbnb, whose considerable support since 2020 has provided immediate crisis support for survivors at frontline level.
“We now look forward, with their continued support, to building sustainable Safe Communities across Ireland.
“Together, we can all work to build accessible pathways out of abuse for all who endure domestic violence."
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