The idea of a political vote is overplayed. Ireland won it seven times and most people in Europe probably wouldn't know where we are or think we're part of the UK. You can hardly say Austria was voted in by it's neighbours. Although in this case it might have been a bloc gay vote!
Netherlands got a lot of votes because the song was good and was a bit unlucky to run into the bearded lady.
Of course friendly neighbours do vote for each other. Ireland gave the UK eight undeserved points the most any country gave to it. The song was rubbish just like ours was. We didn't even make it into the final.
Anyone would think we didn't want to win Eurovision.
When you think about look at the countries that have won in recent years. Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Russia, Serbia, Finland etc. You would be hard pushed to name an internationally famous singer or group that came from any one those countries recently. Then you look at the UK and Ireland. Lots of good singers, groups and songwriters to choose from in both countries. Yet we send bad songs every year. Songs that are doomed to failure from the start. If you're familiar with the comedy series 'Father Ted' there's one episode where the TV people, broke from winning Eurovision too much, fix the Irish competition so they won't win again by sending Ted to sing 'My Lovely Horse'. Not nearly as funny as sending a puppet turkey which Ireland did a few years ago. Turkeys in every sense of the word.
