Donegal’s own Mickey Joe Harte is swapping his green guitar for dancing shoes as he joins the eighth series of Dancing with the Stars.
The series returns to RTÉ One and RTÉ Player in January 2025.
Singer-songwriter Mickey Joe Harte first captured the nation’s attention two decades ago, as the first ever winner of You’re a Star.
The popular Lifford man went on to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2003 in Riga, Latvia, performing We’ve Got the World Tonight.
The song finished eleventh on the scoreboard, topping the charts at home, becoming the best-selling single of the year and earning its place as a timeless anthem.
Chatting about his decision to step into the sequins, Mickey Joe said: “I just thought the time felt right. Honestly, even a few years ago, I probably wouldn’t have been as open to it.
“But I think with Eurovision last year and Bambie Thug doing so well, it felt like there’s a nice buzz out there. I think it’s just the right time and I’m not getting any younger!”
Since his Eurovision days, Mickey Joe has been no stranger to the spotlight and has maintained his place in Ireland’s entertainment scene.
He re-released We’ve Got the World Tonight as an Irish-language duet with radio DJ Cathal Minogue and toured alongside The 2 Johnnies. Most recently, Mickey Joe teamed up with fellow Donegal singer Rory Gallagher to write and record a new festive duet, Hey! Home For Christmas, which is out now.
As Mickey Joe trades the hills of Donegal for the bright lights of the ballroom, and gets used to performing without his guitar, he says: “I don’t have the crutch anymore, the guitar or the microphone. I tend to talk when I’m doing gigs and get the crowd going. You just have to go out there, do your thing, dance and make sure that you’re on it. There’s no warming yourself into the gig, you’re straight on!”
Stay tuned to see if the Eurovision veteran can bring “douze points” energy to the dance floor!
Mickey Joe is the fifth celebrity to be announced, following this morning’s reveal of Irish taekwondo Olympian Jack Woolley.
Earlier this week, comedian Gearóid Farrelly, Mrs. Brown’s Boys actor Danny O’Carroll and former Miss Universe Ireland, Aishah Akorede were revealed as the first three hopefuls who will be vying for the glitterball trophy in early 2025.
The next five celebrity contestants joining the new series of Dancing with the Stars will be announced on the Late Late Show tomorrow night, 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
The glitz, glamour, and nail-biting competition will all unfold when the new season returns to RTÉ One and RTÉ Player next month.
Dancing with the Stars will be hosted by Jennifer Zamparelli and Doireann Garrihy again this season. The two-time Dancing with the Stars winner and professional dancer Karen Byrne will join the judging panel in 2025 alongside longstanding judges Loraine Barry, Brian Redmond and Arthur Gourounlian.
