IRELAND is sending a turkey as its singer to the Eurovision song contest in May -- and furious critics, including the country's first Eurovision winner Dana, are crying foul.Feathers flew almost within seconds of Dustin, a television puppet noted for "sending up" the establishment, being voted winner of the national qualifying contest by viewers of RTE, the national broadcaster.Dana, the 1970 winner -- the first of seven record-breaking Irish Eurovision triumphs -- immediately demanded that Ireland withdraw from the Belgrade semifinal of this year's event.She was a panelist on the RTE program when Dustin, cleverly disguising the identity of the unknown source of his voice, was wheeled onto the stage in a shopping cart decorated with a toilet seat tribute to Ireland's previous Eurovision winners.The contraption included flashing glitter balls, turntables, hair dryers and several clich Irish emblems.Dancers in wacky, scanty outfits pranced around the stage as tone-deaf Dustin screeched his "song," "Irlande, Douse Points" -- a skit on the Eurovision voting process in which marks are announced in French.Dustin's overwhelming victory over five other entries split the country evenly between those disgusted at the choice and those who think it's a hoot."I think we have to remember that when we're going out there we're representing our country," said Dana."I've nothing against Dustin. He's great at what he does. He's a great entertainer and more power to him. It's a great dance track, but we're representing our country and I have to say I think it was very wrong."She added, "I think it's insulting to the music industry here and I think it's an insult to the other countries that are taking part if we think it's just a bit of fun."If we think it's not important and it doesn't matter then pull out like other countries have done. Let's just pull out of it. I mean it. Underlying in this, I think we've lost a sense of pride in our country.She said that if Ireland does win with a puppet then we ought to congratulate ourselves on lowering the tone of Eurovision.One of the defeated singers, Marc Roberts, said, "If I knew Dustin was in there I certainly wouldn't have touched it. I felt he had an unfair advantage because he's been a part of our lives for the past 15 or 20 years."Entrepreneur Louis Walsh, manager of pop kings Westlife, thinks Dustin's selection is hilarious. In a reference to recent dismal Irish performances, including last year when Dervish were last, Walsh said, "We've sent plenty of turkeys in the past. I think certain people need to get off their high horse about the whole Eurovision thing." Walsh added, "We have tried sending serious acts to the contest in recent years and they haven't delivered the goods so I have nothing against Dustin at all."Bob Geldof said, "The mere fact of him being a turkey should give Ireland the edge. He'll gobble them up."Final note to Dustin, who was "interviewed" on the RTE radio prestige current affairs program Morning Ireland.On Dana's criticism he said, "I have a lot in common with her. We both ran for the presidency as a joke. We are both small birds who don't really have great singing voices, and now we are both going to have represented Ireland in the Eurovision."Dustin added, "Dana, thanks for all your support. You have been a legend. And I won't let it out of the bag that you helped me write the song."