Radio and theatre: Marty’s festive mix gets us in the yuletide mood

The Lyric FM morning stalwart didn’t disappoint at the onset of the Christmas season

Marty Whelan ushered in the Yuletide celebrations on Lyric FM with a typically eclectic mix of popular classical instrumentals, musical scores and movie soundtracks

December 8 marks the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, commemorating Mary’s conception of Jesus without original sin. In Ireland, the holy day evolved to celebrate the more modern religion of capitalism: December 8 was traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year, when people from all over the country would flock to urban centres to do their Christmas shopping.

More recently, it is significant because it marks the day when RTE’s Lyric FM, that bastion ...