Some of you may not know this, but Ireland, this scrap of a country on the western edge of Europe, has the most successful Eurovision Song Contest winning streak in the contest's history - a record it shares with Sweden. Of course, 2023 wasn't Ireland's year. Neither was the last 26 years...

However, Ireland's triumphs in the Eurovision Song Contest began with Dana's memorable victory in the 1970s, but their success didn't end there. In 1980, Johnny Logan enchanted audiences with his heartfelt performance of "What's Another Year," securing another victory for Ireland. Seven years later, Logan returned to the Eurovision stage with his captivating song "Hold Me Now," earning yet another triumph for the nation.

In 1992, Linda Martin's powerful rendition of "Why Me" resonated with viewers, propelling her to victory and adding another milestone to Ireland's Eurovision journey. The following year, Niamh Kavanagh's soul-stirring performance of "In Your Eyes" captivated audiences and secured Ireland yet another win. 

The year 1994 witnessed a remarkable performance by Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan, whose heartfelt duet, "Rock 'n' Roll Kids," struck a chord with the audience and earned Ireland another Eurovision victory. And in 1996, Eimear Quinn's ethereal vocals in "The Voice" captivated the hearts of listeners, leading to yet another triumph for Ireland.

During a conversation with my former peer, Lukas Gliaubičius, who moved to Ireland right after completing high school and now has almost 10 years of Irish experience under his belt, I had the opportunity to discover the joys and challenges of the "land of a hundred thousand welcomes." "[Irish] have a great sense of humor," he told Bored Panda in a message. "They don't hold back from teasing you but are not easily offended themselves."

Although the first couple of years in Ireland was "pretty rough," Gliaubičius, who currently lives in Dublin, admits, it was the neighborliness of locals that charmed him into staying for the long haul. "What I love about them is that they're very chilled out and open to talk about pretty much anything." Ream off the Irish bands that belt out from your iTunes library without using Bono or The Cranberries, he says, and you pretty much have their respect. Not so much for the politics.

One thing he found fascinating about Ireland is the disparity between city life and villages. "Dublin has a lot of immigrants. Sometimes it feels like there are more of us than there are born and bred Irish," he explained. "So when you got to a local pub in a village," like Adare or Cobh, "you're likely to attract quite a few curious glances."

Gliaubičius shares this sentiment due to the increasing number of young Irish individuals seeking better opportunities elsewhere. The National Youth Council of Ireland conducted a recent survey revealing that more than 70% of individuals aged 18 to 24 in Ireland are considering moving abroad. Furthermore, 80% of them express concerns about their future prospects if they remain in the country. The survey also found that 50% of respondents reported experiencing deteriorating mental health, likely influenced by the escalating cost of living.

"Many young individuals in Ireland often choose to migrate to countries like Canada and Australia due to the significant challenges they face in attaining a satisfactory lifestyle with a basic minimum wage job," he said. "Renting a one-bedroom apartment alone can cost anywhere between 800-1000 Euros per month. Moreover, if one contemplates living in a house on the outskirts of Dublin, the monthly expenditure can escalate to approximately 3000 Euros."