Busy schedule strikes a chord with Lorcan

THE thought of a 14-day work stint, many of them with a 4.20am start, would not strike a chord with many people.

But for Lorcan Murray, it’s music to his ears, literally.

The Limerick-based broadcaster is this week and next displaying his talents on Lyric FM and RTÉ Radio One.

And, as if that is not enough, he is also doing two gigs at one of Munster’s top night spots.

Murray, 50, has just notched up another listenership accolade, having attained the highest Lyric FM figures in the most recent JNLR ratings.

In doing so, he edged out such notables as Gay Byrne and Marty Whelan for the top spot.

Lorcan’s Classic Drive programme, which goes out between 4pm and 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays, has attained an aggregate reach of 113,000 listeners.

This week, he is a the helm of the Classic Drive from Monday to Sunday.

And from next Monday he will be at the microphone for the RTÉ Radio One programme Rising Time, kicking off at 5.30am and leading into Morning Ireland at 7am.

“It’s not a bother to work 14 consecutive days,” he said. “Mine is a labour of love. Music and radio are my life. The early morning stand-in next week means I will have a 4.20am start at home. But I live only about a mile from the RTÉ studios in Limerick, so that helps.”

In between his radio work, Lorcan mans the decks at Clublite in Mallow every Saturday.

“It attracts people in the 19 to 25 age group. On radio I like to think I can see my listeners, but at Clublite, I do see my audience and the music I play is totally different to what I play on radio,” he said.

The fact his name is identified with the classical radio does not cause him problems.

“I am permanent with Lyric and a utility broadcaster with Radio One. I think I am the only broadcaster who crosses between both stations on a regular basis. I suppose it is a challenge to my versatility, but it gives me the opportunity to engage and pick for a very wide and diverse audience.”

“We get all our material for Lyric from the RTÉ library, and I use my own collection at home to source my Radio One material.

“I have lost count of the number of CDs I have, but before the CD, I had a collection of more than 40,000 vinyl singles. I am updating my CD collection all the time,” he said.

Away from the studio, Lorcan spends a lot of time on the road working with the Lyric Outreach programme, in which they introduce radio pbroadcasting to various schools and organisations.

“We often go to schools catering for students with special needs,” he said. “One of my lovely memories is when we went to the Catherine McAuley school in Limerick. One girl who found it very difficult to engage in any conversation did a piece on her favourite TV programme. She spoke for about five minutes about Coronation Street.

“She was brilliant and her parents, who were there, were thrilled. When we do outreach we give those taking part a copy of the recording they make and I’m sure that one is treasured by the girl and her family.”