Dana says Ireland can win the Eurovision again, but only if we make changes.
The Derry singer, who won in 1970 at the age of just 18, was the first Irish entrant to win the competition.
Clare songstress Sarah McTernan received the lowest number of votes of all countries who participated in this year’s contest in Israel.
Sarah performed her song 22 in the second semi final but failed to progress to the final.
Ireland has not claimed the Eurovision crown since Eimear Quinn's performance of The Voice in 1996.
The 25-year-old received just 16 points as a combined score between the public vote and judges score - the lowest of any act to compete this year.
However, despite a disappointing recent record, Dana is convinced that Ireland can scoop the top prize once again - as long as there is a change of approach.
She told the Irish Sun: "Portugal were the longest running contestants never to have won the competition so what Portugal came up with was the most un-Eurovision song you ever heard.
"They smashed it.
"It won every jury vote in every country. So I think Ireland can do something similar. It isn't about coming up with a song that's completely out there.
'What you need is something that is sincerely written and a composition that stands on its own."
