Ballinasloe's Rachel bidding to represent Ireland at Eurovision

It was announced today that Ballinasloe singer Rachel Goode is one of the contenders hoping to represent Ireland at the Eurovision song contest in Italy.

This year's Eurovision is being held in Turin in May, and Ireland's entry will be chosen on a special episode of The Late Late Show on Friday, February 4.

Six songs are in contention, and on his RTE radio show this morning Ryan Tubridy played the first one, which is called 'I'm Loving Me' and is performed by Rachel.

You can listen to it here:

Ryan Tubridy was impressed with the song, saying it transported him "back to my youth in the '80s."

Rachel is a classically trained soprano who has recently been recording some country music classics and is a contestant on the current series of TG4's Glór Tire show.

On social media this evening, she said the news was "finally out" about her Eurovision bid.

"When the songwriters approached me to sing their song, I thought this song is such a bop, total 80s vibes, so catchy, and absolutely screams Eurovision.

"It's a different genre than my usuals, but I love it and I hope you'll get behind me so I can represent Ireland in this year's Eurovision."

After initially being based in the UK, Rachel moved in her early teens to Ballinasloe, the home town of her parents, Caroline and David.

She is a past pupil of Our Lady's Bower in Athlone, which she attended for a year, and Ardscoil Mhuire in Ballinasloe.