IRLEAND has made it through to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in five years.
Ryan O’Shaughnessy will now perform Together at the final in Lisbon this Saturday.
It’s the first time Ireland has made it to the final stage since 2013, when Ryan Dolan finished bottom with just five points.
We're through to the final!!!! Yessss! Well done @ryan_acoustic!!! #Eurovision #ESC2018 pic.twitter.com/iwSgjx7S7M
— RTÉ2 (@RTE2) 8 May 2018
Ireland was up against it on the night, having been included in the first semi-final, dubbed the group of death.
It included many of the favourites for the competition, such as Cyprus, Estonia, Israel and Czech Republic.
With only 10 of the 19 acts going through to the final and nine spots already confirmed, the tension was palpable.
How amazing was that! @Ryan_Acoustic and team you've done us proud! #Eurovision #ESC2018 #allaboard pic.twitter.com/jvnqNdMKlV
— RTÉ2 (@RTE2) 8 May 2018
However O’Shaughnessy took the final place, seeing off the likes of Azerbaijan, Belgium and Greece.
Ireland will now hope they can add to their record seven Eurovision titles, the last of which came in 1996.
Success-starved Twitter users meanwhile were already celebrating as though Ireland had already won the competition.
God it's like Italia 90 all over again!!! #Eurovision @Ryan_Acoustic #Ireland
— Hairy Baby T-Shirts (@HairyBabyTees) 8 May 2018
Bejaysus lads we’re back 😃😃#EUROVISION
— Rory's Stories (@RorysStories) 8 May 2018
Wahoooooo 🇮🇪🇮🇪🍺🇮🇪🍺🍺 well done @Ryan_Acoustic and all the team.. amazing scenes fantastic performance ! 💪🏻🇮🇪
Roll on Saturday ! ☘️ #Eurovision— Nicky Byrne (@NickyByrne) 8 May 2018
Give thanks & praise to Saint Johnny of The Blessed Logan - Ireland's in the #Eurovision final!
— Joe O'Shea (@josefoshea) 8 May 2018
Reaction in @TheGeorgeBar to Ireland making the Eurovision final... yaaaaas!!! 🔥 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZzYmE8qflq
— Victoria Secret (@Victoria_Secret) 8 May 2018
Savour this moment so you can say you knew where you were the night Ireland qualified for the @Eurovision final.
— Declan Varley (@declanvarley) 8 May 2018
Got a little bit of pushback when we selected Ryan for #eurovision this year, people saying we needed an upbeat song. Feck that, it was absolutely beautiful & the best by a country mile. Win, lose, draw, a gorgeous performance you sexy bastardo x
— Eoghan McDermott (@eoghanmcdermo) 8 May 2018
Ireland are in the Eurovision Final, the Leaving Cert is cancelled
— Aisling Mc Connell (@AislingMcC__) 8 May 2018
IRELAND QUALIFIED YAAAASSSSS #EUROVISION ALLABOARD pic.twitter.com/qfCRF93qzr
— TJ |🇪🇪🇨🇾🇸🇪🇧🇬🇵🇹🇫🇷🇨🇿🇮🇪 (@tjgolden711) 8 May 2018
Couldn't give a crap about the #Eurovision but when #Ireland got through to the final.. pic.twitter.com/hLpoUFUi0x
— Alan 😬🍀 (@AlanMIreland) 8 May 2018
