RTÉ lyric fm is Ireland’s national music and arts station catering for many tastes and broadcasting a wide range of music from classical, opera, jazz, world & roots, traditional and contemporary through to movies & musicals, chamber, sacred and more. We organise education and outreach programme visits to schools introducing children around the country to classical music and the art of programme making and, in addition, the station has its own CD label with an on-going policy of commissioning works from composers who are born or based in Ireland. We have also recently launched an initiative for a Composer-in-Residence.
The station was launched and began broadcasting from our state of the art studios in the centre of Limerick City on the 1st of May 1999 and the technological advances continue with the installation of a DAB test transmitter in the city which will allow this exciting new form of radio broadcasting to become more commonplace in the region. Being based in the very heart of the city means that we are ideally placed to welcome incoming guests and contributors from nearby Shannon airport and gives us access to the very heart of the city – the commercial centre along with the lively bars and restaurants. In addition to the city’s new found vibrancy, we find ourselves surrounded by a wonderful selection of groups and venues, a number of whom we work closely. Our neighbours include the Irish Chamber Orchestra, the Hunt Museum, the Limerick City Gallery, University Concert Hall, Daghdha Dance Company, The Belltable, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Dolans and many more… We’ve also been able to reflect the cultural activity of the city on air with recordings from the Concert Hall, the MBNA Shannon International Music Festival, Radio Feíle from King John’s Castle and outside broadcasts from around the city.
We are also very proud to have an on-going association with the local Limerick charity Bóthar who, along with the Jack & Jill Foundation, are one of our ‘charities of choice’. We are great supporters of their work and offer assistance where we can with fundraising promos to promote their efforts in a national forum.
Being based in Limerick gives us a unique perspective on cultural life both in our capital city and around the country. We are able to reflect music and arts activity not only within the confines of Dublin, but also from north to south, east and west, with the advantage of being able to look in on Dublin rather than looking out from the centre onto regional activity.
My own personal feeling is that this is a very exciting time to be in Limerick with the current re-development and regeneration that’s taking place. There is a huge amount of arts and musical activity taking place in the region and with the city becoming ever more cosmopolitan and multi-cultural, this can only mean good things ahead. With the new rugby stadium nearing completion, a new venue coming online out at UL and students from around the world being welcomed to the Academy of World Music, the region has never had such a vibrant and exciting chance to be the new capital of culture. I and my colleagues at RTÉ lyric fm have made Limerick and the surrounding area our home and we’re delighted to be here. We all wish the city well in its ongoing development to fulfil its potential.
Aodán ó Dubhghaill, Head, RTÉ lyric fm
