Now that Eurovision is done and dusted for another year, it's time to look ahead to 2022.

While we can't help feeling a little hard done-by considering the quality of Lesley Roy's song versus some of the tosh that made it to the final, it's never too early to start planning for victory and redemption.

Here are five acts that we reckon could restore our reputation in Eurovision....

SINEAD O'CONNOR

You may think we're joking, but just imagine the scenes if Sinead O'Connor walked out onto the Eurovision stage to represent Ireland? Surely we'd be dead certs to win. Sinead herself tweeted over the weekend, saying “Always wondered why they've never sent me to sing the Eurovision song for Ireland: why send a child to do a man's job, like? I'd have blown them all off the stage.” She's not wrong. And even former winner Eimear Quinn voiced (tee hee) her approval, saying “You still could! I’m very proud of my involvement... It’s very much about music.... and so much more. I think you’d like it.” G'wan, Sinead. Please?

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MICHAEL FRY AND JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW

One of Ireland's most popular Twitter musical comedians teaming up with one of Ireland's best-known indie musicians? It'd make for an unusual collaboration, but it might actually happen. Michael Fry – best known for setting memes and viral clips to original music – has already proven his worth as a writer of super-catchy earworms. McMorrow could add some finesse to the whole shebang. They've already connected on Twitter and expressed their mutual interest. Make it happen, lads.

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SAMANTHA MUMBA

Perhaps the most credible prospect on this list, we're sure that Samantha Mumba would absolutely kill it at Eurovision. She already has an international profile, thanks to her hits way back when ('Gotta Tell You', 'Body II Body', etc.) and still has the voice and presence, as her more recent singles have shown. She has even expressed interest in entering in the past few years. Of course, putting a well-known name out there to represent us hasn't always worked in our favour; Westlife's Nicky Byrne failed to even qualify for the final back in 2016. But paired with a really strong song, Samantha Mumba could do the business for us.

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RUTH-ANNE

She's one of the most successful pop songwriters to ever emerge from Ireland, but Ruth-Anne isn't exactly a household name in Ireland (probably because she left to go to LA and then London as a teenager to learn her craft). Nevertheless, with co-writing credits on hits for One Direction, Niall Horan, Britney Spears and Bebe Rexha under her belt, the Dubliner certainly has a fine pop pedigree. She's also released her own material and co-ordinated and produced the Irish Women in Harmony project last year, proving her can-do/go-getter attitude; something that's certainly a requirement, given the mammoth task ahead.

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PITBULL (WITH ENYA)

Okay, hear us out. If San Marino can enlist Flo Rida for their 2021 entry, why can't we do the same for 2022? Now, given post-pandemic budget constraints, it's understandable that we won't be able to afford the likes of Kanye or Drake or Jay-Z. The solution? Someone like Pitbull would surely be available for not much more than it'd cost to get him to wish your sister 'Happy Birthday' on Cameo. Pair him with an Irish legend like Enya, and we're laughing all the way to the winner's podium.