Kildare schoolgirl one step closer to representing Ireland at Junior Eurovision Song Contest

A young girl from Allen has taken a step further in her bid to represent Ireland at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Malta later this year after she was put through to the next round of the Irish selection stage.

Having sailed through the first round, Stephanie Byrne from Allen was instructed to write and perform her own song- in Irish- for the next phase of the competition, and her ballad was impressive enough for the judges to send her into the next round where only 32 contestants remain.

She is now through to the live shows, and the judges will be seeking to whittle down the competitors to just four in the coming weeks, with the grand final due to take place in September.

11-year-old Stephanie was encouraged to enter the contest by School of Dance coach Vicky Barry, who recognised the young woman's talent during her classes at the school. A coach full of Stephanie's fellow students from Vicky's school will travel to Dublin to support their friend as she bids to become Ireland's entrant for the song contest that takes place on November 20.