Ireland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1986 with the song "You Can Count On Me", written by Kevin Sheerin, and performed by the group Luv Bug. The Irish participating broadcaster, (RTÃÂ), selected its entry through a national final.
(RTÃÂ) held the twenty-first edition of the National Song Contest on 30 March 1986 at its studios in Dublin, hosted by Mike Murphy. Eleven regional juries across Ireland selected the winning song, "You Can Count On Me", performed by the group Luv Bug and composed by Kevin Sheerin.
Luv Bug performed twelfth on the night of the contest, following and preceding . At the close of the voting the song had received 96 points, placing 4th in a field of 20 competing countries. This high placing was the third of five straight top ten finishes, and was the run-up to Ireland's win in Brussels the next year.