The Lyric Feature

The poet Louis de Paor was born in Cork, but has not lived there for many years. In this evening's Lyric Feature, he goes back to explore the Cork of his childhood, where he first learned Irish, and the Cork that his father knew, that run throughout his poetry.

Poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin goes back to the Donegal Gaeltacht, where she grew up, and explores the folklore and history, landscape, language and personal experiences that all influenced her poetry.

Chris Nikkel follows the story of a forgotten Irish migration to Canada through folk music passed down orally, and a special bicentennial commemoration.

Documentary maker Róisín Power opens the door into the world of the National Symphony Chorus of Ireland to ask why singers continue to give their time, their voices, and their hearts to this extraordinary ensemble as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.

reland has white tailed sea eagles as well as golden eagles, both having been recently reintroduced. In this episode Anja Murray and Brían Mac Gloinn travel to Garinish Island in west Cork and also hear from National Parks and Wildlife Service Ranger Clare Heardman about the nesting and breeding habits of these wonderful birds.

Our Gold award winner from this Years IMRO awards. 'Der Musikmann' presented by George Hamilton.

An exploration of the powerful and enigmatic poem "The Song of Amergin" and the ancient Milesian legend in which it appears. Presented and Produced by JJ O’Shea Producer for lyric fm: Eoin O Kelly (First broadcast September 2020)

Theo Dorgan explores poetic, mythical, historical and cultural links between Ireland and Galicia in north west Spain.

A collection of four short radio features from artists in various disciplines taking the poems of Patrick Kavanagh as a jumping off point for their own new works. Incl' Annemarie Ní Churreáin, The Sons of Southern Ulster, Scott McKendry & Ceol Connected.

Derry-born composer Seán Doherty is best known for his choral compositions, but in this Lyric Feature, 1001 Gems, he goes back to his roots in Irish traditional music.

Paddi Benson and Grace Lemon are two uilleann pipers who play and write music together in London. In their new  Lyric Feature  on RTÉ lyric FM,  The Dead Reeds , they explore the stories bound up in uilleann pipe reeds 

Composer and sound recordist, Karen Power and her microphones revisit the remote, magnetic spaces of the Arctic which she first visited and recorded more than a decade previously.

This weeks Lyric Feature is -Black Syren, which tells the largely forgotten story of Rachel Baptist, a Black Irish soprano, who predominantly appeared in Irish "pleasure gardens” in the 1750s and 1760s performing arias by Handel and Arne among others. The feature is presented by journalist Saibh Downes.

"Ahead of her celebratory concert with the NSO, this feature reflects on the career of US-born composer Jane O'Leary, who has made an immeasurable contribution to contemporary Irish classical music since moving to Ireland in 1972."

Constance "Connie" Smith was born in 1929 on Limerick's Wolfe Tone Street and would later become a star who burned brightly, but all too briefly, during the golden age of Hollywood cinema.

The poet Moya Cannon takes us to  A Corner of the Burren  to a place she discovered through her reading of Tim Robinson's maps, the triangle formed by Corcomroe Abbey, St. Colman's Well, Ought-mama and the 'Seven Churches’.

Part 3 - The romantic imagination - Michael Lee explores the rich imaginative idealism that informed so much music in the Romantic Era.

Part 2 - Virtuosity and Poetry In this three-part series, Michael Lee explores the rich imaginative idealism that informed so much music in the Romantic Era.

In this three-part series, Michael Lee explores the rich imaginative idealism that informed so much music in the Romantic Era. Part 1  - The Sublime

Patricia Baker goes in search of the hidden history of a place behind a locked door in Dublin 8.

'Wild' tells the story of Ireland's landscapes and its wildlife across past, present and future, exploring the ever changing relationship between people and nature through time.

A Dream of Foreign Lands commemorates the 40th anniversary of Rum Sodomy & The Lash, the groundbreaking album by The Pogues. Featuring exclusive contributions from James Fearnley and Jem Finer of the band, as well as Shane's sister Siobhan MacGowan, the programme delves into the album's enduring creative and cultural significance.

Ye Vagabonds Brían Mac Gloinn tells the story in word and song of the rescue of 18 Dutch sailors off Arranmore Island in December 1940. Written, presented and performed by Brían Mac Gloinn. Produced by Brían Mac Gloinn & Eoin O Kelly

A story of music, leadership and resilience on Shackleton's Endurance Expedition.

Scottish poet Kenneth Steven presents Deirdre of the Sorrows, exploring this ancient tale that continues to inspire writers and musicians today.