Thirty years ago Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry helped win the Eurovision Song Contest for Norway – could an astro-dog themed favour be returned this year?
Enter EMMY, who will be flying the Irish tricolour in Basel, Switzerland, next week.
But how does a 24-year-old Norwegian singer, who had never been to Ireland, end up representing one of Eurovision's most decorated nations?
As it turns out, quite easily – after a chance encounter at a songwriting camp in her native Scandinavia, where she met Irish songwriter Larissa Tormey.
The pair collaborated on the song Laika Party – inspired by the stray Soviet dog who was sent on a doomed space mission in 1957.
The dog, described as a female Russian breed, became the first living creature to orbit the Earth when she was launched aboard the space satellite Sputnik II.
She died after 10 hours due to overheating and stress, but EMMY and her co-writers have imagined a different outcome in their bizarre, upbeat ode to Laika.
So far, so Eurovision.
"I've heard her story since I was a little kid, but it came to me again as an adult and I thought about how extremely sad her story really is. I wanted to create a scenario where she gets to be happy and alive instead," EMMY said.
After initially being rejected from the Norwegian Eurovision selection process, Laika Party was given a second chance when it was announced as an entry for Ireland's Eurosong.
"[Larissa] said she thought this song would fit Ireland, because of their love for animals… we decided to submit it and I'm so glad we did," she explained.
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Evidently, they were right – the song succeeded over the likes of Irish pop royalty Samantha Mumba, who was left unimpressed by the selection process, and will make its Eurovision debut at the second semi-final on 15 May.
"Eurosong was actually my first time in Ireland," EMMY said.
"We had about a week to become as Irish as we could!
"I'm so grateful that Ireland actually chose us, you know, it's just an amazing journey and we have done these pre-parties around Europe and it's so amazing to see the audience sing along, that means a lot."
