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Lyric fm's Breakfast show presenter - Marty Whelan.

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Comments

  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,708 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    ghiertal wrote: »
    Anyone is says that marty is an addition to lyric is either (a) an idiot or (b)an inverted snob concerning classical music, "Isn't it great Marty is on, he never plays anything i dont know".
    Gawd i absolutely HATE him.I used to listen to carl for years and then liz but wtf is mw doing there.I often switch him on just for a few minutes in order to confirm that his show revolves around about six of the same bits of fluff. He is not even in Limerick(neither is John Kelly) and got really defensive about a letter sent in complaining that he is diluting the stations remit.

    I wonder was that my letter he got defensive about! I did get a long response from Lyric's head person telling me that I was more or less completely wrong and MW was getting lots of excellent feedback. :(

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 429 ✭✭ghiertal


    pinkypinky wrote: »
    I wonder was that my letter he got defensive about! I did get a long response from Lyric's head person telling me that I was more or less completely wrong and MW was getting lots of excellent feedback. :(
    No pinky it was letter from a man in Carlow asking Marty how does he make his way down to Limerick everyday. Marty snapped back that he works for RTE and was annoyed as to why he would need to be in Limerick.MW is an unmentionable unmentenioned.I wish he'd just shut up.I think the best course of action to take is to boycott MW and RTEs other nursery home DJs.
    However it is not just this group.One rarely hears wagner, bruckner or brahms(apart from in concerts) on lyric, there seems to be an exclusive focus on Italian,french and English composers.
    The best presenters imo are cynthia morahan,rachel blech,trish taylor and paul herriott.They will probably all be sidelined or discarded.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 491 ✭✭doomed


    Since O'Brien on Song was dropped from RTE 1 last year dozens of great singers will never be heard from again. Suggestion for RTE. Take one hour of Marty's programme every day and rerun the old Jack O'Brien programmes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 656 ✭✭✭bureau2009


    As a life-long fan of radio (even worked on the pirates many years ago!) I cannot understand why RTE let Marty Whelan near a radio station.

    He is so awful I am unable to listen to even his Tesco adverts. Whenever I hear his voice I have to leave the room.

    It raises serious issues about RTE Producers and Management, and the cliqueness of life in Ireland. Who suffers? Answer: the tax and licence paying audience, that's who.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3 Flicks


    I have just been transported home after a tough morning,s work, transported on a magic carpet of music, woven by Maria Callas singing La Wally, introduced by the dulcet tones of Liz Nolan. What a different experience yesterday morning, when I inadvertently switched on Lyric only to be assailed by the abrasive sound of Goldfinger introduced by the garrulous gnat MW. in fact I joined Boards purely to give vent to my irritation sine he joined Lyric. however, Classic FM is a good alternative when I have access to digital radio.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,785 ✭✭✭Aglomerado


    He had Bruce Springsteen playing this morning! ?????? Followed by a movement from Bach's Second Brandenburg Concerto. I love the Boss just as much as I love Bach, but that's a strange playlist for radio!

    Van Morrisson's Moondance earlier this week as well.

    Also I wish he'd shut the f up about Winning Streak. I hate being reminded of that sh!te.

    He'd be better on an afternoon slot on Rte Radio 1 or something. He's a pleasant fellow - just not suited to the breakfast show on Lyric!


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,708 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    I'd love to mail this thread to Lyric's programming head!

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,737 ✭✭✭MidlandsM


    pinkypinky wrote: »
    I'd love to mail this thread to Lyric's programming head!

    why don't you?

    The whole stations a waste of electricity if the truth be known........


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 221 ✭✭TimmyTarmac


    The whole stations a waste of electricity if the truth be known......

    Maybe you'd like to expand on this one, Midlands M? What's the problem? Not enought Black Puddin Country n' Irish or not enough Phil Collins for your taste?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 419 ✭✭Dirigent


    MidlandsM wrote: »
    why don't you?

    The whole stations a waste of electricity if the truth be known........

    I've mailed them a number of times about sMarty's slot, how they wasted ten years of steady audience building away to give a job to someone who tries to imitate Terry Wogan. Their responses are bland in the extreme.

    I strongly disagree with your second sentence, many of the Lyric presenters are excellent: Niall Carroll, Liz Nolan, Trish Taylor, Lorcan Murray. The big difference is that they let the music do the talking.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 429 ✭✭ghiertal


    In fairness we probably shouldn't be having a go at mw, he is only doing what they want.If the producers in lyric wanted a solid base of classical music interspersed with other forms then it's easily achievable.Reading an interview with Lorcan Murray(who presents a drivetime show on lyric at the weekend) in this weeks Limerick Leader, i learned that his favourite band is AC/DC. He did not mention classical music at all in quite a lenghty interview.It seems that to many presenters lyric offers a convenient, facile post.

    Oh yeah, i can beat Bruce Springsteen for unusual song selections by mw because one morning i had the misfortune of hearing Barry Manilow's "Copacabana", which was preceded by a Mozart overture.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 491 ✭✭doomed


    ghiertal wrote: »
    In fairness we probably shouldn't be having a go at mw, he is only doing what they want.If the producers in lyric wanted a solid base of classical music interspersed with other forms then it's easily achievable.Reading an interview with Lorcan Murray(who presents a drivetime show on lyric at the weekend) in this weeks Limerick Leader, i learned that his favourite band is AC/DC. He did not mention classical music at all in quite a lenghty interview.It seems that to many presenters lyric offers a convenient, facile post.

    Oh yeah, i can beat Bruce Springsteen for unusual song selections by mw because one morning i had the misfortune of hearing Barry Manilow's "Copacabana", which was preceded by a Mozart overture.


    Listened to Lorcan Murray yesterday. I know he has no background in classical music and it may not be his thing but he does a professional job and presents the music without any of the "I'm an RTE personality and great gas altogether so listening to me must be more entertaining than Mozart" nonsense.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,785 ✭✭✭Aglomerado


    ghiertal wrote: »
    .

    Oh yeah, i can beat Bruce Springsteen for unusual song selections by mw because one morning i had the misfortune of hearing Barry Manilow's "Copacabana", which was preceded by a Mozart overture.

    Yuck.

    That is CRIMINAL!:mad:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3 Flicks


    I agree. I too am a Springsteen fan, even been to a few concerts ! but when I play Bruce I don't expect to hear Brahms. It,s not impossible to mix genres, but it,s difficult. John Kelly can do it, but Marty cannot. QUOTE=Aglomerado;70067668]H had Bruce Springsteen playing this morning! ?????? Followed by a movement from Bach's Second Brandenburg Concerto. I love the Boss just as much as I love Bach, but that's a strange playlist for radio!

    Van Morrisson's Moondance earlier this week as well.

    Also I wish he'd shut the f up about Winning Streak. I hate being reminded of that sh!te.

    He'd be better on an afternoon slot on Rte Radio 1 or something. He's a pleasant fellow - just not suited to the breakfast show on Lyric![/QUOTE]


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,737 ✭✭✭MidlandsM


    Maybe you'd like to expand on this one, Midlands M? What's the problem? Not enought Black Puddin Country n' Irish or not enough Phil Collins for your taste?


    lol........thanks for that. It's the elitist nonsense here posted about Marty or the music etc, that makes me think its a waste of electricity even more - serving an elitest 3 or 4% of the country.
    Seeing as you eluded to country and irish, if the truth be known they'd get more than the 3 or 4 % of listeners if they closed and relaunched with that kind of station.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,490 ✭✭✭Almaviva


    MidlandsM wrote: »
    lol........thanks for that. It's the elitist nonsense here posted about Marty or the music etc, that makes me think its a waste of electricity even more - serving an elitest 3 or 4% of the country.
    Seeing as you eluded to country and irish, if the truth be known they'd get more than the 3 or 4 % of listeners if they closed and relaunched with that kind of station.

    Serving a small portion of the population does not mean elitism!

    If anything Lyric stimulted listening to less popular forms of Music.

    The purpose of Lyric FM was to provide minority music programming (classical, movies, jazz, sacred, opera) to a small, but far from miniscule portion of the population, not served in general by the rest of radio broadcasting in Ireland.

    Accusations of elitism seem to be the knee-jerk response of people criticisng those who are disappointed with the change in direction from Lyric FM away from its original mission. The aim of Lyric was not to apeal to the biggest audience, but to offer an alternative to what was already available. Over the last few years it has lost this distinct identity, and betayed its purpose.

    It seems RTE doesnt care, or worse, its judgement is so poor, it doesnt even realise what has happened to it.

    I haven't listened to Lyric in a year. It sounds like I am missing nothing.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,737 ✭✭✭MidlandsM


    ...so I'm right. It is a waste of electricity.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 221 ✭✭TimmyTarmac


    MidlandsM wrote: »
    It's the elitist nonsense here posted about Marty or the music etc, that makes me think its a waste of electricity even more - serving an elitest 3 or 4% of the country.
    Seeing as you eluded to country and irish, if the truth be known they'd get more than the 3 or 4 % of listeners if they closed and relaunched with that kind of station.

    Yep. I'd agree with you about the audience that RTE could get playing the Black Puddin stuff. But, to my mind, that's not really the issue. It's access to top quality music - classical and specialist, live and recorded - to those of us who don't other access it. There is something in the region of 200,000 - 250,000 people who us it ( Correct me if I'm wrong with those numbers).
    Not a waste of electricity to us.
    If RTE persist in the Marty Whelan route ( and to some extent John Kelly), they might as well put Declan Nurney on a feckin non-stop loop.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,536 ✭✭✭Cole


    He played Dolly Parton the other morning, "Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Joleeeeeeene"......

    I bet yawl loved that. Yeehaw Marty!:D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 221 ✭✭TimmyTarmac


    As I type this, I'm still in shock. I just put MW on to hear Phil Collins sing a Dusty Springfield song followed by a Chopin Polonaise - back to back.
    Fookin unbelievable. Would many of you think there is any kind of an audience for a radio show that mixes, the likes of Phil Collins, Shirley Bassey and Val Jaysus Doonigan with Chopin, Verdi and Beethoven? There must be some reason to this.
    Is this thing mad or am I?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,785 ✭✭✭Aglomerado


    It's mad. Remove him now!


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,708 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    I also accidentally tuned in this morning - urgh. Ok, quite seriously then, what can we do? I know a few people have written to Lyric, myself included, and have had response saying "you're wrong, people really like him". I don't set much store in internet petitions. I doubt the Irish Times would publish a letter about this.

    Thoughts?

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 528 ✭✭✭telecaster


    lyric was a great haven in the morning from all the yammerhead djs. marty is very much getting in the way of the music.

    I'm not hugely against the diversity in his playlist but I'd sign any petition that gives us more music and less marty.

    The perfect DJ should be like the best sports officials....staying out of the way and merely facilitating the entertainment that people have tuned for.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,084 ✭✭✭Barname


    Dear Lyric,

    I have 6 stations on my preset

    for years in the AM I listened to Lyric

    since MW has been bawling in the AM and being generally creepy, I have removed Lyric from my presets

    I no longer listen to Lyric

    Well done Lyric

    Good work MW


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,490 ✭✭✭Almaviva


    -

    [MOD EDIT]: POLL ADDED & MERGED WITH EXISTING THREAD. We don't need two threads on Marty Whelan.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,095 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    I don't very often wander onto the radio forum, but I am so irritated by Marty Whelan on Lyric that I came in intending to ask the same question as the poll.

    He talks far too much. No, not talks, prattles. And he swallows chunks of sentences so it's impossible to hear half of what he says. He usually manages to lose the vital word in the title of a piece of music - something on the lines of ...concerto in murfle.

    I still listen because I like Lyric music, but I get very fed up listening to the interminable, largely indeciphrable, chatty waffle that he goes on with.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,095 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    Barname wrote: »
    Dear Lyric,

    I have 6 stations on my preset

    for years in the AM I listened to Lyric

    since MW has been bawling in the AM and being generally creepy, I have removed Lyric from my presets

    I no longer listen to Lyric

    Well done Lyric

    Good work MW

    Absolutely agree. Recently I have been swearing at whoever tuned out RTE1 and replaced it with 2FM on my car radio. Must remember to retune it when I am not actually driving so I can switch off the incoherent babble that is Lyric.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 491 ✭✭doomed


    pinkypinky wrote: »
    I also accidentally tuned in this morning - urgh. Ok, quite seriously then, what can we do? I know a few people have written to Lyric, myself included, and have had response saying "you're wrong, people really like him". I don't set much store in internet petitions. I doubt the Irish Times would publish a letter about this.

    Thoughts?

    I wrote to them as well - got the same response. Broaden remit, lots of people like it, etc. By that logic they could have a soccer phone in instead of Opera Night and it would get a much bigger audience. What part of specialist music station do they not understand? If they don't want Lyric give it to someone else to run.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,095 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    I wrote and expressed my opinion, though I didn't get a reply yet. I suppose the fact is that he has a contract and Lyric are not going to say 'yes lots of people don't like him on Lyric, as soon as his contract has finished we will boot him!'


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,095 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    This is the first paragraph of the reply I got from Lyric:

    Thank you for your e-mail. I am sorry to read that Marty’s breakfast programme is not to your taste and I note the comments which you make regarding his style of presentation and music content. However, whilst acknowledging the points that you make, I must inform you that we have received feedback from many other listeners to say how much they enjoy the programme, Marty’s presentation style and choice of music. As I’m sure you can appreciate, it’s simply not possible for all of our programmes to be enjoyed by all of our listeners – people have their personal preferences and personal dislikes. All we can hope is that you may enjoy a number of our other programmes.

    There was more but it was just more of the same - economic climate, niche programme etc. Why not just turn it into another 2FM if that is the only criteria!

    The point that interested me was that this is obviously a standard pfo - for a start I didn't mention the content, just the presenter. And they are not going to type an individual screed to every person that writes in.

    Presumably they have one of these for every programme, does that mean they still count the negatives/positives or is it a complete waste of time, and they just go on the mysterious 'listernership' numbers?


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  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,708 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    I binned my response - but I'd say it's a carbon(electronic) copy of what I got.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,490 ✭✭✭Almaviva


    Facebookers doing their bit to try to restore order to the airwaves:

    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=132252176826362


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 Tom2010


    I too sent a letter to the Head of Lyric Aodan O Dubhghaill and whereas I received no succour at least I thought I had the satisfaction that he took the trouble to reply, well it seems it was very little trouble just a trip to the photo copier because it was word for word exactly the reply sent to Looksee above, I thought they had a tiny bit more respect for listeners notwithstanding the fact that we fork out €160 a year for their general well being. Is there a way we can see the actual Listenership figures for the station I would be very interested to see how the juxtaposition of MR with Liz Nolan really did effect listenership in the morning and at midday. Well of course I should have realised just how arrogant and aloof they have become in RTE. I have never gone back to Lyric in the morning and I used to so enjoy Liz Nolan and Trish Taylor. Isn’t it amazing how RTE feel compelled to call shows after the “star” that presents it and in the case of the clown Marty it also has to be an alliteration i.e. “Marty at Midday” & “Marty in the Morning”, this presumably rules him out of an evening slot or does anybody have any suggestions how the brains in RTE could solve that one. Of course it does allow for a “Marty in the Middle of the Night”.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 656 ✭✭✭bureau2009


    Got a problem with Marty Whelan on Lyric?

    I have a HUGE problem with Marty Whelan - anywhere.

    HOW ON EARTH do radio & TV bosses think he is "good"? I can't bear the man, even on the Tesco ads.

    Marty Whelan should never be let within miles of a TV or radio station. For a brief period he had no contract or programmes and I thought to myself broadcasting bosses have it right. How wrong I was.

    If I were Taoiseach I would order the deportation of Marty Whelan to Antarctica on a permanent basis.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 Tom2010


    I’m also curious as to how some of the Radio Critics or the Classical Music fraternity, or indeed anyone with a respect for good music other than Pop, have not commented publicly on this attempt of making a” Pigs Ear out of a Silk Purse” of a good music station, or have the?. Also if Aodan O Dubhghaill says in his photo copied” personal” replies that the station is getting a lot of letters of support for the new “Smarty” version of classical music how come we are not getting any hint of this on Boards or other Forums


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,066 ✭✭✭Sandwlch


    The Classical Music folk on Boards gave up on Lyric FM months ago:

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055764276

    Id love to see that mythical correspondence to Lyric supporting its revamp......


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 491 ✭✭doomed


    Tom2010 wrote: »
    I’m also curious as to how some of the Radio Critics or the Classical Music fraternity, or indeed anyone with a respect for good music other than Pop, have not commented publicly on this attempt of making a” Pigs Ear out of a Silk Purse” of a good music station, or have the?. Also if Aodan O Dubhghaill says in his photo copied” personal” replies that the station is getting a lot of letters of support for the new “Smarty” version of classical music how come we are not getting any hint of this on Boards or other Forums

    What would a pro Marty letter look like? "hello. I find the news depressing so I don't like Morning Ireland. I don't like classical music but I tuned into Lyric and was pleasantly surprised to find that there was really very little. Just easy listening and that nice chatty man from the lottery. Isn't he a hard ticket all the same? Can you play Tony Bennett please Marty? My budgie loves it".


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51 ✭✭paddins


    I also e-mailed the station - The first paragraph is below:

    Note - the subject title was: "FW: Morning Show" - how blatant is that!

    "Thank you for your e-mail. I am sorry to read that Marty’s breakfast programme is not to your taste and I note the comments which you make regarding his style of presentation. However, whilst acknowledging the points that you make, I must inform you that we have received feedback from many other listeners to say how much they enjoy the programme, Marty’s presentation style and choice of music. As I’m sure you can appreciate, it’s simply not possible for all of our programmes to be enjoyed by all of our listeners – people have their personal preferences and personal dislikes. All we can hope is that you may enjoy a number of our other programmes"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51 ✭✭paddins


    I have also removed Lyric as a preset station!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 221 ✭✭TimmyTarmac


    According to the JNLR, the people have spoken.
    From what I can see from the RTE press blurb, Marty Whelan's show reaches 19,000 every morning while the most listened to show is Classic Drive which reaches 50,000 each evening!
    Now, maybe the time of day has something to do with it, but on those figures, there seems to be a much bigger appetite for a show which only plays Classical Music. Am I right?
    I know these numbers are subject to spin, but that seems to be the message.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 491 ✭✭doomed


    They don't mention what that 19k compares to. You can assume that if it had gone up book on book they would be crowing about it.

    They also mention that Liz Nolan's show has increased its listenership. That must be compared to when Marty had it. I am one listener who went back to lunchtime listening when Liz came back.

    Yes Marty will bring new listeners to Lyric but they are outnumbered by those who leave.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,077 ✭✭✭Rebelheart


    Last October I posted this on this thread.

    I have to say my utter dislike for this individual taking this slot on Lyric FM has grown beyond words. And it's not just because he's doing that Tesco ad and thus saturating Irish radio. As a person he seems like a likeable man, but I really do not believe he has a place on Lyric. Here's why.

    I used to love Lyric FM. I was the sort of listener who would check the time I heard a particular song and later that day, when the Lyric FM playlist was online, I'd check the name of the track. I'd then do a wide range of online searches on the singer/composer etc and usually end up purchasing something. The Spanish singer of renaissance songs Montserrat Figures and Dors mon enfant being a case in point. I have since discovered worlds of medieval spiritual music from Nóirín Ní Riain and the Monks of Glenstal Abbey to Austrian monastic monks. I am very grateful to Lyric FM for introducing me to such amazingly poignant and spiritual singers. I really appreciated the fact that Lyric FM presenters put the music ahead of their "personalities", their egos. Lyric truly was a station for people to learn, to expand their knowledge and appreciation of music from across our world. The presenter was always in the background, a mere modest and humble conduit for passing this world on to those of us who were curious. This made Lyric different, refreshing and thus serving a very valuable function on Irish radio. LyricFM was an oasis of calm and enlightenment. It allowed me to get a break from all other stations and their eternal waffle about things I have no interest in.

    Now, when I attempt to avoid Morning Ireland's 10 minutes of sports and news at 8.35 and I switch over to LyricFM for calm and Marty Whelan is talking, and talking, and talking. On the rare moments that music is playing his musical taste is all over the place. There's no mood, no sentiment, no depth and no musical brand that I can discern. I resent this "personality" stuff being foisted upon LyricFM listeners at the expense of a musical style and character. I judge my presenters by the music they offer me, not their waffle. If I want talk radio, I know where Newstalk or RTÉ Radio 1 is. Believe me, I feel the same about Gay Byrne and George Hamilton, but neither of them are on Lyric FM as much as Marty Whelan is, or at prime time such as on the way to work in the morning. Sunday with Byrne is equally as objectionable for all the same reasons. All of these people would be acceptable if they got over themselves, stopped talking raiméis, developed a musical style and brand of their own and when they talked it was to enlighten us about the music. This talking shíte "personality"-driven radio taking over LyricFM is offensive on so many levels. Please note, RTÉ management.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 419 ✭✭Dirigent


    Rebelheart wrote: »
    Last October I posted this on this thread.

    I have to say my utter dislike for this individual taking this slot on Lyric FM has grown beyond words. And it's not just because he's doing that Tesco ad and thus saturating Irish radio. As a person he seems like a likeable man, but I really do not believe he has a place on Lyric. Here's why.

    I used to love Lyric FM. I was the sort of listener who would check the time I heard a particular song and later that day, when the Lyric FM playlist was online, I'd check the name of the track. I'd then do a wide range of online searches on the singer/composer etc and usually end up purchasing something. The Spanish singer of renaissance songs Montserrat Figures and Dors mon enfant being a case in point. I have since discovered worlds of medieval spiritual music from Nóirín Ní Riain and the Monks of Glenstal Abbey to Austrian monastic monks. I am very grateful to Lyric FM for introducing me to such amazingly poignant and spiritual singers. I really appreciated the fact that Lyric FM presenters put the music ahead of their "personalities", their egos. Lyric truly was a station for people to learn, to expand their knowledge and appreciation of music from across our world. The presenter was always in the background, a mere modest and humble conduit for passing this world on to those of us who were curious. This made Lyric different, refreshing and thus serving a very valuable function on Irish radio. LyricFM was an oasis of calm and enlightenment. It allowed me to get a break from all other stations and their eternal waffle about things I have no interest in.

    Now, when I attempt to avoid Morning Ireland's 10 minutes of sports and news at 8.35 and I switch over to LyricFM for calm and Marty Whelan is talking, and talking, and talking. On the rare moments that music is playing his musical taste is all over the place. There's no mood, no sentiment, no depth and no musical brand that I can discern. I resent this "personality" stuff being foisted upon LyricFM listeners at the expense of a musical style and character. I judge my presenters by the music they offer me, not their waffle. If I want talk radio, I know where Newstalk or RTÉ Radio 1 is. Believe me, I feel the same about Gay Byrne and George Hamilton, but neither of them are on Lyric FM as much as Marty Whelan is, or at prime time such as on the way to work in the morning. Sunday with Byrne is equally as objectionable for all the same reasons. All of these people would be acceptable if they got over themselves, stopped talking raiméis, developed a musical style and brand of their own and when they talked it was to enlighten us about the music. This talking shíte "personality"-driven radio taking over LyricFM is offensive on so many levels. Please note, RTÉ management.

    Very well put. Like yourself, I have an interest in current affairs but that doesn't include dross like sport, out of date traffic, celeb nonsense, lotto stories, etc. I used to flick over to Lyric in the mornings for relief, but Whelan is so bloody irritating, I just switch off or get out the MP3 player. I'm an early morning walker, so I tune in from shortly after 6, where they just let the music do the talking. Come 7, Lyric is switched off!


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,708 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    Well said Rebelheart - I hope you've sent this into Lyric as well. Our only hope for change is a mountain of complaints. I'm just listening to morning ireland now and I often tune in right at the sport report, which I do not want to hear.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 491 ✭✭doomed


    Rebelheart wrote: »
    Last October I posted this on this thread.

    I have to say my utter dislike for this individual taking this slot on Lyric FM has grown beyond words. And it's not just because he's doing that Tesco ad and thus saturating Irish radio. As a person he seems like a likeable man, but I really do not believe he has a place on Lyric. Here's why.

    I used to love Lyric FM. I was the sort of listener who would check the time I heard a particular song and later that day, when the Lyric FM playlist was online, I'd check the name of the track. I'd then do a wide range of online searches on the singer/composer etc and usually end up purchasing something. The Spanish singer of renaissance songs Montserrat Figures and Dors mon enfant being a case in point. I have since discovered worlds of medieval spiritual music from Nóirín Ní Riain and the Monks of Glenstal Abbey to Austrian monastic monks. I am very grateful to Lyric FM for introducing me to such amazingly poignant and spiritual singers. I really appreciated the fact that Lyric FM presenters put the music ahead of their "personalities", their egos. Lyric truly was a station for people to learn, to expand their knowledge and appreciation of music from across our world. The presenter was always in the background, a mere modest and humble conduit for passing this world on to those of us who were curious. This made Lyric different, refreshing and thus serving a very valuable function on Irish radio. LyricFM was an oasis of calm and enlightenment. It allowed me to get a break from all other stations and their eternal waffle about things I have no interest in.

    Now, when I attempt to avoid Morning Ireland's 10 minutes of sports and news at 8.35 and I switch over to LyricFM for calm and Marty Whelan is talking, and talking, and talking. On the rare moments that music is playing his musical taste is all over the place. There's no mood, no sentiment, no depth and no musical brand that I can discern. I resent this "personality" stuff being foisted upon LyricFM listeners at the expense of a musical style and character. I judge my presenters by the music they offer me, not their waffle. If I want talk radio, I know where Newstalk or RTÉ Radio 1 is. Believe me, I feel the same about Gay Byrne and George Hamilton, but neither of them are on Lyric FM as much as Marty Whelan is, or at prime time such as on the way to work in the morning. Sunday with Byrne is equally as objectionable for all the same reasons. All of these people would be acceptable if they got over themselves, stopped talking raiméis, developed a musical style and brand of their own and when they talked it was to enlighten us about the music. This talking shíte "personality"-driven radio taking over LyricFM is offensive on so many levels. Please note, RTÉ management.


    Great post. I agree with everything you say.

    I think it is the sheer contempt for what Lyric was and still could be that gets me. It started out with informed presenters, generally not well known, who loved music and shared their enthusiasm and their knowledge. Now lyric is like some outlet store where recycled cheesy game show hosts and OAPs who need a pulpit can hang out.

    In the small stagnant RTE pond they really believe that we should be grateful. After all these are RTE personalites. Better than Beethoven any day.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 656 ✭✭✭bureau2009


    doomed wrote: »
    Great post. I agree with everything you say.

    I think it is the sheer contempt for what Lyric was and still could be that gets me. It started out with informed presenters, generally not well known, who loved music and shared their enthusiasm and their knowledge. Now lyric is like some outlet store where recycled cheesy game show hosts and OAPs who need a pulpit can hang out.

    In the small stagnant RTE pond they really believe that we should be grateful. After all these are RTE personalites. Better than Beethoven any day.

    Well said guys.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,708 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    I saw Carl Corcoran at the Love:Live Music in the Sugar Club last Friday night. I had to restrain myself from accosting him and begging him to do something about Marty. My friend said I should just get over it, but I really can't.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 491 ✭✭doomed


    martify (verb): to carry out an act of artistic vandalism, e.g. drawing a moustache on the mona lisa, plastering the Sistine Chapel, or ripping 3 hours a day out of a classical music station and inflicting a cheesy game show host on the listeners.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,077 ✭✭✭Rebelheart


    pinkypinky wrote: »
    I saw Carl Corcoran at the Love:Live Music in the Sugar Club last Friday night. I had to restrain myself from accosting him and begging him to do something about Marty. My friend said I should just get over it, but I really can't.

    hehe. :D


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,708 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    It gets worse: I actually saw Marty Whelan tonight.
    I did not approach.

    I wanted to though.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



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