Marty Whelan: should he be on RTÉ lyric fm?

Expunge

Yes, but in a less prominent slot.

Yes. That's it in a nutshell.

iffandonlyif

Tork wrote: »

BBC radio has half a dozen national stations that cover most bases. RTE is trying to be all things to all men and the result is a mishmash of stations with random programs shoved everywhere. 2fm has Dave Fanning and the sports show sitting in the middle of its music for youths schedule. Lyric has the likes of Marty and John Kelly. By rights, these shows should all be on a separate station aimed at people who want to listen to music but aren't 21 any more. That's not going to happen of course.

Despite their number, BBC radio stations still don't manage narrow programming. If you turned off Radio 4 after listening to hard-headed news on the Today programme, you'd be forgiven if you were disappointed to tune in to radio drama a few hours later. The Six O'Clock News often leads in to comedy. Radio 3 has an awful lot of chat, some of it, like Free Thinking, entirely unrelated to music. I don't listen to much Radio 2, but I think Jeremy Vine's programme is a bit like Moncrief on Newstalk interspersed with music. I don't think RTE should be criticised, then, for varied programming, provided the stations retain their core character, which I think Lyric certainly does.

I can see how Marty Whelan would grate for daily Lyric listeners or people looking for some proper classical in the morning. But I must say, whenever I've chanced across him, I've enjoyed his easy manner at that hour in the morning. To be quite honest, I'd sooner rather they got rid of the film scores programme that they have mid-aftrenoon on Saturdays.

pjq

iffandonlyif wrote: »

I'd sooner rather they got rid of the film scores programme that they have mid-aftrenoon on Saturdays.

Me2

serfboard

Yes, but in a less prominent slot.

iffandonlyif wrote: »

I'd sooner rather they got rid of the film scores programme that they have mid-aftrenoon on Saturdays.

No way - the best programme on Lyric, IMO.

iffandonlyif

serfboard wrote: »

No way - the best programme on Lyric, IMO.

Glad that it gives you enjoyment, but on my Saturday drives I would much rather be listening to proper classical.

rightmove

Cant argue with a bit of Marty - sure you get Nevin also and the banter and chat. Marty is a legend

ford fiesta

Seriously, what is the alternative to Marty and his music selection at that 3 hour window of the morning on Lyric FM?

-Niall Carroll's Classical Daytime or Lorcan Murray (Classical individual pieces of music / Themes from the Composers)?

-John Kelly (Classic Alternatives)?

-The full score with Liz Nolan (Classical concerts)?

-Marty's fill in presenters (very short links)?

ford fiesta

The John Greene Show wrote: »

Marty Whelan has only 6 months left as host of the lyric FM breakfast show, he is RTE staff so will be required to retire on his 65th birthday next June.

https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/rte-star-marty-whelan-says-24119967

Really enjoying George Hamilton on Lyric this week,no inane banter just beautiful music!

Dempo1

No, absolutely not.

Not at all sure why the question being asked about Marty being on Lyric or is it perhaps more about Marty?

I've always thought he's down to earth, not a hint of arrogance about him (sadly the same can't be said about many other RTE presenters), who's smugness and arrogance is breath taking. Whatever about music choice, his presenting style and perhaps his tendency to perhaps talk more than other presenters on Lyric, it's actually these qualities I personally find refreshing, up lifting and amusing, particularly on dreary cold morning on the way to work. I can personally vouch for a dear friend who went through a year of rehab after a serious illness, who's recovery was helped by the few hours of Marty in.the morning. I can understand he may not be to everyone's taste, but I've certainly appreciated his service for many, many years.

NIMAN

ford fiesta wrote: »

https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/rte-star-marty-whelan-says-24119967

I wonder how a guy like Marty works for rte for so long and hasn't a penny to his name?

I guess some folk are just useless with money..

But then again, didn't Gaybo lose most of his money on bank shares? And think Dunphy Lost a pile too.

B2021M

NIMAN wrote: »

I wonder how a guy like Marty works for rte for so long and hasn't a penny to his name?

I guess some folk are just useless with money..

But then again, didn't Gaybo lose most of his money on bank shares? And think Dunphy Lost a pile too.

He seems a nice guy but i really dont know where to start with this statement. He earned considerably more than most people for a long period of time. Most stock markets have recovered from even the Covid dip and the 08 crisis. Unless there was a serious lack of diversification nobody should have been wiped out.

Id go so far as to say there is real arrogance in a statement like this. He has saved no money and is more or less demanding to be kept in a job in a taxpayer funded organisation.

EmmetSpiceland

No, absolutely not.

If they moved Marty out of Lyric the only reason to tune into the station, at all, would be ‘Mystery Train’. And how often does anyone do that??

Nothing worse than turning on the radio and having that ‘Vox Nostril’ show coming on. Leave Marty where he is.

Expunge

Yes, but in a less prominent slot.

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

If they moved Marty out of Lyric the only reason to tune into the station, at all, would be ‘Mystery Train’. And how often does anyone do that??

Nothing worse than turning on the radio and having that ‘Vox Nostril’ show coming on. Leave Marty where he is.

Yes, why would anyone tune into hear specialist/classical music presented by people at least somewhat informed on those musical subjects on a station supposedly dedicated to such things?

No, better to have the 'bants', dad/grandad pop/rock in the style of BBC Radio 2 circa 1979, delivered by a man who's voice is unfortunately failing (seriously, I heard him on Eurovision - there's something up with his vocal chords).

All delivered with public money. And now we learn the man who lives in a c. 3 million Euro house in an exclusive development in Malahide hasn't a penny to his name, for retirement, apparently.

A specialist show once a week on Early Music? How terrible! No, more banter please.

blondeonblonde

No, absolutely not.

Expunge wrote: »

Yes, why would anyone tune into hear specialist/classical music presented by people at least somewhat informed on those musical subjects on a station supposedly dedicated to such things?

No, better to have the 'bants', dad/grandad pop/rock in the style of BBC Radio 2 circa 1979, delivered by a man who's voice is unfortunately failing (seriously, I heard him on Eurovision - there's something up with his vocal chords).

All delivered with public money. And now we learn the man who lives in a c. 3 million Euro house in an exclusive development in Malahide hasn't a penny to his name, for retirement, apparently.

A specialist show once a week on Early Music? How terrible! No, more banter please.

I think you are being a little harsh! There is plenty of specialist content on Lyric and no shortage of quality classical music, opera, full score, musicals etc.

I don't think there is any harm in having a lighter side to the programming schedule. Many classical music presenters have a particularly"worthy" style and the classical music scene can be a little exclusive (dare I say snobby?!)

There is an argument that Marty's style and mix of music can allow people without a background or interest in classical music to dip their toe in the water and broaden their musical tastes. Not to mention the fact that it provides a haven for those wishing to escape the sheer misery of current affairs programming and the plastic pop on other channels.

From my own perspective i have only become more interested in Classical music in the last 5 years or so, moving on toward opera and and now I often enjoy the full score programme on my commute home from work. Thanks in no small part to Marty!

Lyric would be a lesser station without him imho.

B.A._Baracus

Re: Marty being broke.

In 2017 he basically bragged about how much he was getting: (hoping to God he stays out of the top ten earners of rte so people won't know - ie, he's not on buttons)
https://m.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/im-glad-nobody-knows-what-rte-is-paying-me-says-station-stalwart-marty-whelan-36115832.html

It's just the poor mouth folks.
Don't really like him anymore after his recent comments. Like Marty, come on, we all know you are not poor and that's fine. You've been on rte yonks. But don't give us the poor mouth. It's insulting to people's intelligence and its the sign of an as*hole.