Following an internal competition announced last April, RTÉ has appointed Sinéad Wylde as Head of the music and arts radio station RTÉ Lyric FM. She succeeds Aodán Ó Dubhghaill, who retired in the summer of 2020. 

Wylde has worked as producer for Lyric in daytime programming and features since it was launched in 1999. She has been the producer of Marty in the Morning with Marty Whelan, Lunchtime Choice with Liz Nolan, The Hamilton Scores with George Hamilton, Movies and Musicals with Aedín Gormley, and Into the Evening with Eamonn Lawlor. She has also won numerous national and international awards for production and documentary making and pioneered Lyric’s outside broadcasts. 

Commenting on her appointment, Wylde said:

Over the last year and a half, it has become even more apparent what a valuable space RTÉ Lyric FM creates for our listeners – one where they can experience beauty and joy. It is this space Lyric provides and the dynamic engagement with the listener that builds on our public service ethos.

Throughout the pandemic RTÉ Lyric FM continued to support the music makers, performers, and artists whose livelihoods were stricken and who had the challenge to find new ways to reach their audiences. Lyric helped to bridge this gap by continuing to provide a platform for their work. We are delighted to have played our part in keeping the music alive – we are nothing without our musicians and I along with the dedicated team in RTÉ Lyric FM look forward to reaching new audiences and keeping the music alive for many years to come.

Lyric has been the subject of public discussion since it was suggested in 2019 that the station close its Limerick studios and move to Dublin and Cork. Following a public outcry, the decision was deferred pending the publication of the Future of Media Commission’s report. That report has recently been submitted to Minister Catherine Martin and the Taoiseach but it has not been published yet.

Meanwhile, RTÉ has stated that it has developed a new 2021–2023 roadmap for Lyric that has a number of components, including broadening and diversifying the audience for the station; driving forward policies and commissioning decisions that will produce additional original music and cultural content; maximising on air-talent; and ensuring Lyric is a central platform in ‘commissioning and disseminating the work of musicians, orchestras and other artists in Ireland’.

Commenting on Wylde’s appointment, Ann-Marie Power, RTÉ Head of Arts and Culture, said:

I would like to congratulate Sinéad on her appointment. Sinéad is committed to ensuring that RTÉ Lyric FM remains a vital and viable part of RTÉ by building on its strengths and developing its schedule and strategy across the next number of years. Sinéad will lead a team of talented individuals in RTÉ Lyric FM and work with the wider team of colleagues in the RTÉ content area of Arts and Culture. We wish her well and look forward to many more people discovering the joys of RTÉ Lyric FM.

Visit https://about.rte.ie/2021/11/02/sinead-wylde-appointed-as-head-of-rte-lyric-fm/