The inside story of Ireland's Eurovision victory is not one of unbroken confidence. It is a tale of near collapse. Dara, the man who brought the contest back to Dublin with 'Bangaranga,' has admitted he almost quit twice. Twice.
Sources close to the production tell me the first wobble came during rehearsals. Technical issues. A lighting rig malfunction that nearly sparked a full-blown meltdown. Dara, we are told, was on the verge of walking out. The pressure was immense. Ireland hadn't won in decades. The weight of a nation, or at least the RTÉ budget, was on his shoulders.
Then came the second crisis. The night before the final. A row over the staging. Dara wanted changes. The director said no. Words were exchanged. Sharp words. He again threatened to pull the plug. A peace was brokered by a senior delegation, but it was touch and go.
Why is this coming out now? The official line is candour. But look closer. This is a classic love-bombing strategy. Show the vulnerability, then the triumph. Humanise the winner. It is a play for maximum public sympathy and a longer shelf life. Dara is not just a singer. He is now a story. And stories sell records.
The real game, however, is political. Ireland's victory is a massive boost for the government. They will milk it. Taoiseach already on the phone, praising Dara as a 'national hero.' Expect a state reception. Expect photo ops. Expect a bounce in the polls for the coalition, however fleeting.
But backbench whispers are less kind. Some in the Dáil are grumbling about the cost. The Eurovision bid was expensive. There are questions about RTÉ's spending. Dara's near-quits will be used as ammo by those who say the whole enterprise is a circus.
For now, Dara is the darling. The narrative is set. He battled his demons, almost quit, but came through. It is a classic redemption arc. But in the lobby, we know that such arcs are often manufactured. The truth is messier. The truth is that he nearly walked. Twice. That is the real story. And it suggests a fragility that the media machine will now work overtime to bury.
Watch this space. The bonhomie will not last. There will be a reckoning over costs. And Dara's next album will be scrutinised for signs of strain. For now, he is on top. But in politics and pop, the fall is always waiting.
