Eurovision: Irish entry Ryan Dolan ahead of Malmo final

Four years ago he was a window fitter in Strabane, County Tryone, now Ryan Dolan is preparing to represent Ireland in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo in Sweden.

Ryan will perform his song, Only Love Survives, in front of a television audience of approximately 125 million on Saturday evening.

He secured a place in the final after qualifying from the semi-finals earlier in the week.

Ireland have secured the much-sought-after position of performing last out of the 26 countries performing on Saturday.

Ryan hopes voters will remember their performance as they are on only moments before the phone lines open.

"I'm more excited than nervous about the final but I say that'll change just before I'm about to go onstage," said Ryan.

"I'm having a great time over here and I'm loving every minute of it.

"It is kind of like a massive festival, the whole atmosphere around Malmo is electric. All the fans are over and they are really excited about it. The whole city seems to have changed, everything is Eurovison."

Ryan said he had been nervous about qualifying for the final.

"It was amazing feeling when we got through. It was what I had been worried about most just getting through to the final so it's a big weight off my shoulders so now I can just relax and enjoy the rest of the event.

"I'm just looking forward to the final and getting it all over and done with and hopefully everything will go well."

Ryan's dancers, shirtless bodhrán drummers, have been getting almost as much attention as him.

"We just thought it would make us stand out a bit and we've had them done up with Celtic tattoos so even though it is a dance song there is an Irish vibe."

Back in his hometown of Strabane, excitement has been building ahead of the final.

"Strabane have been behind me right from the beginning, even from when I announced I was going to go for the national finals. Even looking at my Facebook and Twitter everyone is behind me, local businesses are even putting ads in the paper wishing me luck so it's great having that support.

"It's great that Northern Ireland, being part of the UK, can vote in the final for Ireland so I'm hopeful everyone will be getting behind me again and support me."

Eurovision veteran, and former Irish winner, Linda Martin, who won the competition in 1992 with her song Why Me?, has travelled to Sweden with Ryan and thinks he will do well in the competition.

"It's a great song and he is a really nice guy. I'm confident he will place highly on the leader board," she said.

Ryan will be going head to head with UK entry Bonnie Tyler this weekend. The Welsh singer who is known for her songs Total Eclipse of the Heart and Holding out for a Hero will perform a song called Believe in Me.

"I think she is amazing, I've always liked Bonnie Tyler. She is a really special lady, her song this year is really good and I think she could do really well. I've met her a few times since I've been out here and she seems like a really nice person. I think she will do really well," said Ryan.

"The favourite from the start has been Denmark, it's a really cool song. The singer, Emmelie De Forest, was in the first semi-final with me and obviously she got through. I'd say she is the one to watch but there are so many good songs it's going to be a really tight competition."

Around 40 of Ryan's friends and family, including his parish priest, will be travelling to Sweden to support Ryan in the final.

"Hopefully I'll do everybody proud," he said.

The Eurovision Song Contest will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC Radio 2 on Saturday 18 May 2013 from 20:00 BST.