Eurovision Song Contest 2006 Hallelujah" was the first ever hard rock song to win the contest, since Eurovision is normally associated with softer pop music and schlager. This was Finland's first victory in Eurovision after waiting forty-five years. It is also noted that they scored the same amount of points in the semi-final and the grand final. The hosts of the Eurovision Song Contest in Athens were Greek singer Sakis Rouvas, the Greek representative at Eurovision in 2004 and 2009, and the Greek American television presenter and actress, Maria Menounos. In the semi-final, both the hosts sang Katrina and the Waves' contest-winning "Love Shine
Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 Eamonn Toal represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 in Stockholm after winning the national final selection. His song "Millennium of Love" was one of eight songs presented in the national final, which was held on 20 February 2000 at the RTÉ television centre in Dublin. For the first time since 1990, Pat Kenny did not host the event, the honor instead going to 1995 Eurovision Song Contest presenter Mary Kennedy. As in the 1999 national selection, regional televoting was used to determine the winner. Toal performed 23rd in the running order