UK national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest had hit with "Walking On Sunshine", to enter a new track, "Love Shine A Light". This produced a win in the Eurovision Contest itself for the United Kingdom and for Katrina and the Waves in 1997, and followed with a second place for Imaani in 1998, but disappointment in 1999 for the all-girl band Precious. In 2000, the same format continued, but the final four songs were performed live in "A Song For Europe", still shunted to a graveyard Sunday afternoon slot. The result proved disappointing. Nicki French gave what author John Kennedy O'Connor describes in his book The Eurovision
Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 Gary O'Shaughnessy represented Ireland in the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen after winning the national final selection. O'Shaughnessy had previously competed in the 1997 and 1999 national selections, coming in 3rd and 5th place respectively. His song "Without Your Love" was one of seven songs presented in the national final, which was held on 25 February 2001 at the RTÉ television centre in Dublin. Louise Loughman hosted the event, and regional televoting was used to determine the winner. Though O'Shaughnessy won with the most points from the televoting regions, he only received