The shape - and sound - of Lyric FM, RTE's new 24-hour music and arts channel based in Limerick, is finally beginning to emerge. Lyric FM head Seamus Crimmins, below, and the Dublin-based members of his staff have relocated to Limerick, the phone lines are now open (061-207300), and something of the flavour of the new service can be sampled in engineering test transmissions (mostly between 96 MHz and 99 MHz).

The programme schedule is to be officially launched in Limerick on Monday, April 19th. It is expected to be on the lines of Classic FM, with selected play-lists from early morning to early evening and a more streamlined FM 3-style service - with themed programmes and specialist presenters - from 7 p.m. onwards.

The service will go live on Saturday, May 1st. Planned festivities for the gala opening include a special Limerick concert by the National Symphony Orchestra.