You're A Star and You're A Star Charity Special are talent contests created by Radio Telefís Éireann for people living on the island of Ireland.

You're A Star is shown weekly on RTÉ One over the winter months of each year and You're A Star Charity Special is a talent contest for Irish celebrities, it consists of six live shows, shown on RTÉ One over the first two weeks of August. The show is broadcast live from The Helix theatre in Dublin City University.

2002-2003
The 2002/2003 series was the inaugural contest. Radio Telefís Éireann, being the Irish member of the European Broadcasting Union decided that the winner of You're A Star would go on to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest for the foreseeable proceeding years. The show was hosted by Ray D'Arcy. The former Eurovision Song Contest winner, Linda Martin, Talent spotter, Phil Coulter and music manager Louis Walsh served as judges. In the final, the public voted Mickey Joe Harte, a musician from Donegal, winner of the contest. He entered the 2003 contest with the song We've Got the World Tonight where he finished in eleventh position. This was one of the poorest results achieved by Ireland, the most successful country in the song contest having won the contest seven times.


2003-2004
You're A Star returned for a 2003/2004 season. The judges, presenters and general format of the show didn't differ from season one. Chris Doran from Waterford won the competition. In the final of Eurovision Song Contest 2004 Chris Doran finished in 22nd position with seven points awarded by the United Kingdom. As a result, Ireland did not qualify for automatically for the 2005 Eurovision final.


2004-2005
The format of the show was changed for the 2005 season, to try to ensure that Ireland chose an act with more appeal across Europe. The show was no longer limited to solo singer-performers; bands under the size of 6 people could now enter. The final was held on 6 March 2005. Donna and Joseph McCaul, a brother-and-sister act from Westmeath won the contest; Jade, a band from Wexford, finished second; the Henry Girls finished third.

In the semi-final of Eurovision Song Contest 2005, Donna and Joe sang Love?
(pronounced "love question mark"), written by Karl Broderick. The act failed to qualify for the final.


You're A Star Charity Special
On Tuesday 2 August 2005 (at 21.30 GMT) the You're A Star Charity Special made its debut. The special contained 8 Irish celebrities contestants who were coached by Twink (Irish pantomime star). The judging panel consisted of Louis Walsh, Linda Martin and Sunday Independent columnist Brendan O'Connor. Derek Mooney (known from RTÉ's Winning Streak) presented the special for the two weeks.


The Contestants
Name Known as Charity 
Amanda Brunker a columnist Solas, Irish Autism Action 
David Mitchell RTÉ's 'Fair City' star Temple Street Children's Hospital 
Finian McGrath Independent TD Downs Syndrome Ireland 
Natasha Nic Gairbheith former Miss Ireland The Donegal Hospice 
Liam McCormack A 'S@ttitude presenter Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children 
Síle Seoige TG4 and RTÉ presenter Cope (homeless organisation) 
Alan Shortt Bull Island star The National Council for the Blind of Ireland 
Geri Maye Would You Believe presenter The Marie Keating Foundation 

On the night of the final (14 August 2005), David Mitchell defeated Finian McGrath via the Irish puplic vote and won the contest.

2005-2006
On 16 September 2005 RTÉ confirmed that the show would return for a fourth series. However, unlike the previous three seasons, the 2005/2006 prize is not to represent Ireland in Eurovision Song Contest 2006. Instead, it is a recording contract with the record labels Universal Music Ireland and Polydor UK (international distribution).


Presenters
This year Síle Seoige and Derek Mooney are hosting the season. Síle covered the auditions. She chatted with the acts before they perform in front of judges, congratulated those who got through the next round or sometimes offered a shoulder to cry on for those didn't. Derek now hosts the live shows. He introduces the act to the audience and then after the performance he asks the judges for their insight and sometimes plays the part of referee when there is a conflict of opinion between the judges.