There is very little time left to celebrate the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2025! On Saturday, December 13, the 23rd edition of the children’s contest will take place at the Tbilisi Sports Palace, Georgia. The Georgian capital is preparing to host one of the most exciting editions in recent years, where young talents from all over Europe will compete for the coveted crystal microphone.
Among the 18 participating countries, Ireland will be represented by the young artist Lottie O’Driscoll Murray, who will perform the song “Rúin” (Secrets), an emotional and powerful ballad. Her powerful vocal range positions the Irish representative as a candidate capable of captivating the European jury.
From Cork to Tbilisi: we review the story of a talented teenager who conquered the Irish national selection Junior Eurovision Éire 2025 with her strong voice and passion for music.
This is Lottie O’Driscoll Murray: a great voice influenced by the great figures of soul.
Lottie O’Driscoll Murray, a 14-year-old artist born in Cork, lives in Shanakiel with her family. Her mother Céline, grandmother Charlotte, and grandfather Jim O’Driscoll — member of the band Delta 2 — influenced her artistic development, as did her aunt Noreen, a big Eurovision fan. From a young age, she showed stage talent and ease in front of an audience. She studies at Gaelcholáiste Mhuire, where all classes are in Irish, making her fully bilingual. She has performed at Cork Opera House, Cork City Hall, and the Late Late Toy Show. One of her most notable moments was at the Cork Mayor’s Gala, where she performed “All I Want For Christmas Is You” in Gaelic alongside the Cork Concert Orchestra and the Monfort Youth Choir, receiving a certificate from the City Council.
She has a powerful and versatile voice influenced by soul and pop divas such as Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson, Lyra, and Cian Ducrot. She often performs “I Will Always Love You,” “One Night Only,” and Gaelic versions of “You’re Gonna Love Me” or “Take Me to Church.” After being eliminated in 2023 and placing second in 2024, she won the Irish national selection for Junior Eurovision 2025. Lottie also performs charity street shows in Cork and is a fan of Gaelic football and hurling, having performed the national anthem “Amhrán na bhFiann” at Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium and on RTÉ2. Cheerful and creative, she enjoys hairstyling and makeup with help from her friend Abbie.
Her song “Rúin,” written in Gaelic by Ian James White, Nicky Brennan, Rob O’Connor, and Jenny Ní Ruiséal, is a ballad about emotional honesty, mutual support, and the hope to reconnect with a loved one.
This is “Rúin”, Ireland’s entry for Junior Eurovision 2025
Lottie O’Driscoll Murray will represent Ireland at Junior Eurovision 2025 with the song “Rúin” (which means “secrets” in Irish), a ballad described as emotional and powerful.
The song was composed by Ian James White and Nicky Brennan, with lyrics by the same authors along with Jenny Ní Ruiséal and Rob O’Connor, and is entirely in Gaelic, allowing Lottie to share her linguistic heritage on the European stage.
The song expresses a deep desire to communicate openly and sincerely with a loved one, without secrets or barriers. It speaks of the need to share one’s heart, offer support during difficult times, and maintain emotional connection even amid pain or confusion.
Throughout the lyrics, there is a reflection of frustration at not being able to express everything one feels, the internal chaos this causes, and at the same time, the hope to recover lost understanding and closeness.
Lyrics of Rúin
Irish
Inseoidh mé rúin duit
Chun mo chroí a roinnt leat
‘S go dtuigfidh tú cad ‘tá ar
Siúl liom
Tabharfaidh mé seans duit
Fiú nuair a bhíonn drochlá ‘at
Is beirfidh mé greim ar do
Lámh
Nuair a thagann (na) deora
Dá mbeinn in ann labhairt
Leat
Mar a theastaíonn uaim
Gan rud ar bith rúnda, rud ar
Bith rúnda eadrainn
Dá dtuigfeá mo scéal a stór
D’Osclódh doirse dúinn
Gan rud ar bith rúnda, rud ar
Bith rúnda eadrainn
Glacann gach aon chuid
Díom
Smacht orm is ní fheicim
Ach an dath dearg
Ag tochas, ag troid
Ruaile buaile, mo chuid smaointe
Measctha i mo cheann
Dá mbeinn in ann labhairt
Leat
Mar a theastaíonn uaim
Gan rud ar bith rúnda, rud ar
Bith rúnda eadrainn
Dá dtuigfeá mo scéal a stór
D’Osclódh doirse dúinn
Gan rud ar bith rúnda, rud ar
Bith rúnda eadrainn
Gan trácht ar an dóchas,
Níl aon áit don sólás,
Tabhair seans amháin eile dúinne
Níl dabht ann nach rún é
Más ard nó go ciúin é
Go hard nó go ciúin, go deo…
Dá dtuigfeá mo scéal a stór
D’Osclódh doirse dúinn
Gan rud ar bith rúnda, rud ar
Bith rúnda eadrainn
Dá mbeinn in ann labhairt
Leat
Mar a theastaíonn uaim
Gan rud ar bith rúnda, rud ar
Bith rúnda eadrainn
English
I’ll tell you my secrets
To share my heart with you
So that you can tell what I’m thinking
I’ll give you a chance
Even when you’ve had a bad day
And I’ll take hold of your hand
When the tears arrive
If I could just talk to you
As I’ve wanted to
Without anything secret, anything secret between us
If you could just read my heart,
Doors would open for us
Without anything secret, anything secret between us
Every little part of me takes
Control and I don’t see
Anything but the colour red
Scratching, fighting
Chaos, all of my thoughts
Mixed in my head
If I could just talk to you
As I’ve wanted to
Without anything secret, anything secret between us
If you could just read my heart,
Doors would open for us
Without anything secret, anything secret between us
Before we find hope,
We’ll have to find solace,
Find one more chance, my friend,
Our secrets run deep,
Aloud or in silence,
Aloud or in silence, forever
If you could just read my story,
Doors would open for us
Without anything secret, anything secret between us
If I could talk to you
As I want to
Without anything secret, anything secret between us
Ireland in Junior Eurovision
Ireland has participated a total of ten times in Junior Eurovision, joining the contest in 2015 and participating almost continuously since then, only missing the 2020 edition. The country holds a modest track record, usually placing in the mid-to-lower part of the scoreboard.
In their debut in 2015, Aimee Banks with “Réalta Na Mara” achieved 12th place. This result was improved in the following edition when Zena Donnelly and her “Bríce Ar Bhríce” reached 10th place.
In 2019, they were considered one of the favorites. The young Anna Kearny and her “Banshee” finally obtained 12th place, a result that was somewhat disappointing but understandable given the high level of competition that year. In 2021, Maiú Levi Lawlor represented Ireland with the song “Saor (Disappear).” The moment of glory came in 2022, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Junior Eurovision, when Sophie Lennon climbed to a great 5th place thanks to her song “Solas.”
In 2023, Jessica McKean performed the song “Aisling,” accompanied by Sophie Lennon on backing vocals. However, they finished in last place with only 42 points. In the recent edition in Madrid 2024, Enya Cox Dempsey with her rhythmic “Le Chéile” slightly improved Ireland’s result, earning 55 points and finishing 15th. Nonetheless, they remained in the lower part of the scoreboard. It was the 12th most voted entry by the national juries but did not get higher than 16th place in the online public voting.