( AP )- The Eurovision Song Contest regularly throws up surprises. In recent years, it has been won by a glamorous Israeli transexual and a Finnish heavy metal band, wearing monster masks and carrying axes.
But Ireland's choice to fly the country's flag at this year's music fest in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, has ruffled feathers -- not least among musicians who were beaten.
Applause was drowned out by boos and derision when it was announced last Saturday that Dustin the Turkey -- a popular children's television puppet -- would represent the Emerald Isle at this year's competition.
"It's a 'fowl' decision," said Dana Rosemary Scallon, the country's first Eurovision representative and winner in 1970 after the result was announced on state broadcaster RTE.
"I think it is insulting to the music industry here and I think it is an insult to the other countries who are taking part.
"If we think it is just a bit of fun, if we think it is not important and it doesn't matter, let's pull out like other countries have done."
Dustin, however, was unperturbed.
"I'm stuffed and chuffed," he said.
The cloth puppet with an oversized, red nose earlier performed on a supermarket trolley adorned with a hair-dryer, fake flowers and a transparent toilet seat with photos of past Irish Eurovision winners stuck to it.
Dancers in revealing costumes with feathers girated and sang alongside.
His song, "Irelande Douze Pointe" (Ireland 12 Points), refers to the fact that Eurovision contestants can be awarded a maximum of 12 points by other countries for their performance.
The song itself -- a techno tune that name-checks most European countries -- is a parody on the continent-wide contest, which is often accused of selecting a winner for political reasons rather than its artistic quality.
That argument was put forward recently by Austria when it announced its withdrawal from the competition.
Indeed, Dustin laments at one point: "Oh Europe, where did it all go wrong?"
The puppet first appeared on television in 1990 on a children's programme broadcast by RTE, but his irreverent style, marked by periodic belching and flatulence, boosted his popularity among adults.
His six albums have flown off the shelves and he has appeared alongside several national stars, including the former Boomtown Rats singer turned anti-poverty activist Bob Geldof.
Dustin, whose accent mimics Dublin construction workers, mocks all that comes in his path, especially politics.
He has already carried out a satirical campaign for Ireland's presidency, albeit unsuccessfully, and thousands of voters regularly back him by writing his name on ballot papers.
Despite that, Dustin has managed to leave Ireland as "a country divided", according to the Irish Examiner on Sunday.
Ireland had previously taken Eurovision very seriously, winning it seven times between 1970 and 1996 -- a record by any country -- but has fallen on hard times in recent years, finishing last in last year's contest.
The hit Irish comedy series "Father Ted" -- about three Catholic priests living on a remote island off Ireland's west coast with their housekeeper -- even parodied Eurovision, entering a ripped-off song called "My Lovely Horse".
They were chosen as Ireland's entry in a rigged contest -- but only because organisers were sick of hosting Eurovision and wanted to lose.
The Irish Independent dedicated an editorial to Dustin, asking: "Is it just a reflection of the increasingly bizarre acts that adorn the Eurovision stage?"
Israeli transexual Dana International won the competition in 1998, and Finnish heavy-metal group Lordi conquered the opposition in 2006.
For Dustin, though, the next big test will be when he flies in for the competition's semi-finals in Belgrade on May 20, before the finals four days later.
At this point, the bird is keeping his feet firmly on the ground, claiming: "I don't think I would have enough votes to win the Eurovision."