Alternative Eurovisin Song Contest held in McGonagles on 4th April 1981. It was part fun, part protest, at the Big Show being held across town in the RDS. Shea Healy, writer of Johnny Logans 1980 winner Whats another year took part, as did BP Fallon (U2's Zooropa DJ), and many others including a Nul Pointer from the previous year's Eurovision. One of the participants were the Half-Mad Irishmen, comprising Smiley Bolger (vocals) and Phil Lynott (tin whistle and vocals) with backing by the house-band The Atricks. The rules stated that you couldn't play  your normal instrument and whoever got the least votes won. Smiley and Philo played a rocked up version of The Mountains of Mourne, but the Atricks were so drunk at that stage that it was a shambles and they ended up winning - the prize being a record contract with CBS Ireland. Philip was really enthuasiastic and ensured that it was recorded properly and released in a picture sleeve on Yellow Vinyl. At the post-mortem afterwards in the Bailey Pub he made the casual remark "do a Vibe for me sometime" which would prove the catalist for the Vibes of the past 24 years.

Thanks to Hugo McGuinness

Smiley Bolger - Da Half Mad Irishman: What `bout ye!!
12" single, CBS, Ireland, SMILEY1, April 1980

Side one: Da definitive version (un-mixed), Rocked up pop version (Windmill lane mix)
Side two: 3 . 33 min pop version (keystone mix), Winning F.I.A.S.C.O version (live and very dangerous)

Philip vocals on three of four versions