Mell hall in the hunt to stage the 1994 Eurovision

August 1994

RTE bosses refused to name the fourth location under consideration to host the Euro Song contest when their decision was announced last week.

But we can now reveal that it was Drogheda!

Last week the station revealed that Dublin was chosen to host the competition adding that they had considered four other centres - Limerick, Gahvay, Derry and one other which they refused to name.

But at least two Drogheda people knew where they were talking about! Mell youth worker Gerry Floyd had written to RTE with his proposal to host the contest in Mell Parish Hall and got an official reply to say they would consider it!

But, Phil Conyngham, who made a serious application, did not get an answer. Ms. Conyngham said this week she was very disappointed that the contest was to be held in Dublin again.

Gerry Floyd was mildly surprised that they did not choose Mell Parish Hall. In his letter of application he told RTE officials: ‘We can accommodate approximately 700 people standing close together... or we could probably squeeze in 300 seats and put two to a chair side by side, sitting on laps could cause problems..’

He went on to say that Mell hall was only about 20 minutes walk from the bus depot so singers could get the 5pm bus from Dublin to arrive In plenty of time.

“The sound system is in place for the bingo and we can borrow the amp and microphone from the church across the road.

A reply from RTE’s Liam Miller, Director of Television Programmes, said: ‘In arriving at a decision on a venue for any Eurovision Song contest RTE is of course advised by the tourism authorities and transport specialists such as CIE International.

‘ The event requires up to 1,000 bed nights over and eightday period and we have to have some concern to the treatment and transport of artists who are after all the heart of the competition and who must be provided with a reasonable environment within which they rehearse and perform.’

On a more serious note Phil Conyngham said there was no valid reason why the competition could not be held in Drogheda. ‘I don’t think it should go to the Point again - they had their chance,’ she said.