Ireland has tried everything to make it to the Eurovision Grand Final in recent years.

We sent Dustin the Turkey, Jedward and most recently a Galway man in a hot-air balloon.

Alas, Brendan Murray failed to qualify in Kiev last week.

But it could be as simple as a plastic bag - as comedy duo The Rubberbandits are now seen as favourites to represent Ireland in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest.

The odds to send the pair to Lisbon next year have been slashed in half after BoyleSports were inundated with bets on Monday.

Mr Chrome and Blindboy Boatclub are now priced at 8/1 to head for the song contest next year, having been initially at 16/1.

Aoife Heffron, spokeswoman for BoyleSports, said: "Punters were out in force on Monday to get behind the Rubberbandits to represent Ireland in the 2018 Eurovision.

"With bets as big as €100 coming in on the plastic bag wearing duo, we were left with no choice but to cut their price in half to 8/1 from 16/1."

The Rubberbandits tweeted: 'We'll do Eurovision, if the Irish public collaborate with us. To make the worst, tackiest song ever. So everyone is to blame'.

Here's an idea. We'll do Eurovision, if the Irish public collaborate with us. To make the worst, tackiest song ever. So everyone is to blame — Rubber Bandits (@Rubberbandits) May 13, 2017

But they could have some competition, as singer Samantha Mumba said she would "LOVE to" fly the Tricolour next year.

I would LOVE to!ðŸ™ŠðŸ’ðŸ½ðŸ‡¨ðŸ‡® https://t.co/3L3cEukWRb — Samantha Mumba (@samanthamumba1) May 12, 2017

This classic has Eurovision written all over it....

And we already have this tune, which contains strong language, stuck in our heads...