RTÉ Lyric FM is part of Radio Telefís Éireann in Ireland, it is a radio station which plays mainly classical music and jazz music, and is based at Limerick. The station was launched in 1999 and is available via the internet.

RTE Lyric FM grew out of an earlier station, RTE FM3 Classical Music, which broadcast from the early 1980s. FM3 broadcast classical music on the Radio na Gaeltachta network at breakfast time and in the evenings. The station was rarely marketed, except via promotions on RTE Radio 1, and few people knew of its existence.

In 1999, RTE put in place an additional national FM transmitter network, and it was decided to separate FM3 from Radio na Gaeltachta, and expand its remit to include other types of minority music. The resulting station was Lyric FM, launched in May 1999.

Though launched with much fanfare and promise, Lyric FM has been heavily criticised for a 'play it safe' policy, especially in its first two years on air when a relatively small playlist of light and "popular" classics seemed to be repeated ad nauseam. Rumours of internal strife and bad organisation have also dogged the service, and Lyric had a high staff turnover during its first 18 months.

Since a change in management at the station the music policy has become more adventurous and the "pointless fluff" music that had formed its staple has been sidelined, though serious music buffs can still expect to tune out when faced with a few hours of The Blue Danube and Funiculi, Funicula and their like every day.

At the time of its launch, Lyric FMs digital studios in Limerick were the most advanced in the country and the station relied heavily on the automated music selection programme Radioman , which was unreliable and led many of the station's early presenters to ignore it and use CDs.

External link

• Official site

Radio Telefís Éireann
Television: RTÉ One | RTÉ Two | TG4
Radio: RTÉ Radio 1 | 2FM | RTÉ Lyric FM | Raidió na Gaeltachta