Love Shine a Light branch of the Samaritans. In a 1997 interview Katrina and the Waves lead vocalist Katrina Leskanich indicated that it was members of the Samaritans who opined that "Love Shine a Light" "was the type of song which would win the Eurovision Song Contest and [so] at the last minute, [Katrina and the Waves] submitted the song with our £250 [entrance fee]" for consideration to vie in the "", the national preselection round for the UK in Eurovision 1997. It was also reported that Carmina Cooper, the manager of Katrina and the Waves and the wife of Alex Cooper, met up
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