Ireland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021
Ireland was represented at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021, held in Paris, France. Maiú Levi Lawlor was selected by TG4 through a televised national final, with his song, "Saor ", being internally selected.
The country returned to the contest after a break of one year from the 2020 contest due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background
Prior to the 2021 contest, Ireland had participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest five times since its debut in. In, Anna Kearney represented the country with the song "Banshee", finishing 12th out of 19 entries with 73 points. Despite having initially confirmed their participation in the contest in Warsaw, Poland in January 2020, TG4 announced in August 2020 that they would not participate in the contest due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Before Junior Eurovision
Junior Eurovision Éire
Junior Eurovision Éire returned to select the Irish act. Eoghan McDermott, who hosted the selection from 2015 to 2019, did not return to host the selection. He was replaced by Louise Cantillon, a Dublin-based radio presenter.All songs were performed in Irish.
Jury members
As in previous editions, the results of each show were decided by an in-studio jury of two permanent members and revolving guest judges. The two permanent judges were:- Niamh Ní Chróinín – Radio presenter, manager of Irish-language youth radio station Raidió Rí-Rá
- Fiachna Ó Braonáin – Member of Hothouse Flowers, a permanent judge on Junior Eurovision Éire 2016–2018, composer of "Banshee"
Heat 1
The first heat of Junior Eurovision Éire was broadcast on 12 September 2021, with Niamh Kavanagh as the guest judge.| Draw | Artist | Song | Stars | Result |
| 01 | Eva Norton | "This Is Me" | 28 | Final duel |
| 02 | Ronan Spencer | "Always" | 27 | Eliminated |
| 03 | Lilyella Buckley | "Someone You Loved" | 29 | Semi-Final |
| 04 | Orla McDermott | "Ghost" | 28 | Final duel |
| 05 | Katie Hardiman | "Catch and Release" | 27 | Eliminated |
| 06 | Aimee and Grace Gillard | "Feel It Again" | 24 | Eliminated |
| 07 | Saoirse Garrihy | "Shape of You" | 22 | Eliminated |
| Draw | Artist | Song | Votes | Result |
| 01 | Eva Norton | "This Is Me" | 2 | Semi-Final |
| 02 | Orla McDermott | "Ghost" | 1 | Eliminated |
Lilyella Buckley received the highest number of stars, and advanced directly to the semi-final. Eva Norton and Orla McDermott both advanced to the final duel stage and performed their covers a second time. After their second performances, the jury members selected Eva as the winner, granting a spot in the semi-final.
Heat 2
The second heat of Junior Eurovision Éire was broadcast on 19 September 2021, with Brian Kennedy as the guest judge.| Draw | Artist | Song | Stars | Result |
| 01 | Shannon Copeland | "Halo" | 26 | Semi-Final |
| 02 | Cora Harkin | "Catch Me If You Can" | 25 | Final duel |
| 03 | Sienna Hopkins | "Nervous" | 25 | Final duel |
| 04 | Zara Alexander | "Stay with Me" | 22 | Eliminated |
| 05 | Riaghan Boardman | "Bruises" | 23 | Eliminated |
| 06 | Rainne Isibeal Marzo | "Pompeii" | 19 | Eliminated |
| 07 | Grace Nic Giolla Channáin | "September Song" | 18 | Eliminated |
| Draw | Artist | Song | Votes | Result |
| 01 | Cora Harkin | "Catch Me If You Can" | 2 | Semi-Final |
| 02 | Sienna Hopkins | "Nervous" | 1 | Eliminated |
Shannon Copeland received the highest number of stars, and advanced directly to the semi-final. Cora Harkin and Sienna Hopkins both advanced to the final duel stage and performed their covers a second time. After their second performances, the jury members selected Cora as the winner, granting a spot in the semi-final.
Heat 3
The third heat of Junior Eurovision Éire was broadcast on 26 September 2021, with Jedward as the guest judges.| Draw | Artist | Song | Stars | Result |
| 01 | Sadbh Breathnach | "Perfect" | 25 | Final duel |
| 02 | Alison McGrath | "Castles" | 27 | Final duel |
| 03 | Kayden Spooner | "Lonely World" | 24 | Eliminated |
| 04 | Sophie Lennon | "Circle of Life" | 30 | Semi-Final |
| 05 | Cathal Mulvey | "Take My Hand" | 23 | Eliminated |
| 06 | Ciara Hassan | "Dancing with a Stranger" | 23 | Eliminated |
| 07 | Maya and Lia Sheils | "The Cup Song" | 22 | Eliminated |
| Draw | Artist | Song | Votes | Result |
| 01 | Sadbh Breathnach | "Perfect" | 1 | Eliminated |
| 02 | Alison McGrath | "Castles" | 2 | Semi-Final |
Sophie Lennon received the highest number of stars, and advanced directly to the semi-final. Sadbh Breathnach and Alison McGrath both advanced to the final duel stage and performed their covers a second time. After their second performances, the jury members selected Alison as the winner, granting a spot in the semi-final.
Heat 4
The fourth and final heat of Junior Eurovision Éire was broadcast on 3 October 2021, with Mickey Joe Harte as the guest judge.| Draw | Artist | Song | Stars | Result |
| 01 | Julie Cole | "I’ll Be There" | 26 | Semi-Final |
| 02 | Kate Skelton | "Grace" | 23 | Eliminated |
| 03 | Maiú Levi Lawlor | "Hold Back the River" | 24 | Final duel |
| 04 | Victoria Foster | "Shut Up and Dance" | 22 | Eliminated |
| 05 | Ruby Maher | "Hold Me While You Wait" | 25 | Final duel |
| 06 | Neala Graham | "Lullaby" | 17 | Eliminated |
| 07 | Katie Coyle | "Lost Without You" | 20 | Eliminated |
| Draw | Artist | Song | Votes | Result |
| 01 | Maiú Levi Lawlor | "Hold Back the River" | 2 | Semi-Final |
| 02 | Ruby Maher | "Hold Me While You Wait" | 1 | Eliminated |
Julie Cole received the highest number of stars, and advanced directly to the semi-final. Maiú Levi Lawlor and Ruby Maher both advanced to the final duel stage and performed their covers a second time. After their second performances, the jury members selected Maiú as the winner, granting a spot in the semi-final.
Semi-final
The semi final of Junior Eurovision Éire was broadcast on 10 October 2021, with Lesley Roy as the guest judge.| Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
| 01 | Shannon Copeland | "New York" | Eliminated |
| 02 | Maiú Levi Lawlor | "Grace" | Final duel |
| 03 | Alison McGrath | "Ghost" | Eliminated |
| 04 | Lilyella Buckley | "Lost Without You" | Finalist |
| 05 | Cora Harkin | "Shut Up and Dance" | Eliminated |
| 06 | Sophie Lennon | "Hold Me While You Wait" | Finalist |
| 07 | Julie Cole | "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" | Final duel |
| 08 | Eva Norton | "Hold My Hand" | Eliminated |
| Draw | Artist | Song | Votes | Result |
| 01 | Maiú Levi Lawlor | "Grace" | 2 | Finalist |
| 02 | Julie Cole | "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" | 1 | Eliminated |
Lilyella Buckley and Sophie Lennon were both chosen by the jury to advance directly to the final. Maiú Levi Lawlor and Julie Cole were both chosen to go through to the final duel stage and performed their covers a second time. After their second performances, the jury members selected Maiú as the winner, granting a spot in the final.
Final
The final of Junior Eurovision Éire was broadcast on 17 October 2021, with Linda Martin as the guest judge. Each artist performed two songs before the jury decided on two of them to advance to the final duel. In the final duel, Maiú Levi Lawlor was selected as the winner of Junior Eurovision Éire 2021.| Draw | Artist | Song 1 | Song 2 | Result |
| 01 | Sophie Lennon | "Circle of Life" | "It's for You" | Eliminated |
| 02 | Maiú Levi Lawlor | "Hold Back the River" | "Only Love Survives" | Final duel |
| 03 | Lilyella Buckley | "Someone You Loved" | "Rock'n'Roll Kids" | Final duel |
| Draw | Artist | Song | Votes | Result |
| 01 | Lilyella Buckley | "Lost Without You" | 1 | Runner-up |
| 02 | Maiú Levi Lawlor | "Grace" | 2 | Winner |
Song release
Lawlor's song, "Saor " was released on 16 November 2021, along with a music video. It was written by Niall Mooney, Lauren White Murphy, Brendan McCarthy, LA Halvery, Junior Eurovision 2019 entrant Anna Kearney, Anna Banks and Cyprian Cassar, who wrote entries for Malta in,, 2021, and for Ireland in.At Junior Eurovision
After the opening ceremony, which took place on 13 December 2021, it was announced that Ireland would perform eighth on 19 December 2021, following Russia and preceding Armenia.At the end of the contest, Ireland received 44 points, placing 18th out of 19 participating countries.
Voting
| Score | Country |
| 12 points | |
| 10 points | |
| 8 points | |
| 7 points | |
| 6 points | |
| 5 points | |
| 4 points | |
| 3 points | |
| 2 points | |
| 1 point |