Pop tycoon Louis Walsh blasted a decision to axe radio legend Larry Gogan from the RTE delegation to Eurovision as “Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!”
2fm star Larry (73), who has presented the Eurovision on radio for almost 30 years, has been ousted as a result of cost-cutting measures by RTE.
And Eurovision guru Louis (59) said he’s furious that RTE have slammed the door on Larry going to the contest.
“I’m sure there’s a lot of other people in the delegation who should be axed long before Larry is,” he said.
“For RTE to do this to Larry is wrong, wrong, wrong! He’s part of the whole experience of Eurovision for the listeners and he’s always a great support for the acts out there.
“Larry’s a legend and deserves to be treated as such. He should be at Eurovision.”
He added: “It’s typical of RTE — I wonder do they ever really think these decisions out?”
Larry, who has been reporting from Eurovision almost every year since 1983, admitted he’s gutted to be eliminated.
“I will miss it alright. Eurovision was always great fun,” he said.
RTE spent €226,000 on sending a 19-strong Irish delegation to Dusseldorf in Germany last year where Jedward performed Lipstick.
The station hasn’t revealed the size of the delegation which will head to Baku in Azerbaijan on May 12.
But RTE is under pressure to slash costs in a bid to save €25m this year.
Presenter Marty Whelan will travel as usual to provide the TV commentary.
Jedward will perform ‘Waterline’ in the first semi-final on May 22, and hope to win a place in the final on May 26.