RTÉ Lyric FM and Limerick Opera Festival announce Opera Friday broadcast for Friday May 1

RTÉ Lyric FM and Limerick Opera Festival announce Opera Friday broadcast for Friday, May 1. Picture by Kieran Ryan-Benson

Opera Friday is a new partnership between RTÉ Lyric FM and the Limerick Opera Festival, created to celebrate Ireland’s thriving operatic culture

Opera Friday is a new partnership between RTÉ Lyric FM and the Limerick Opera Festival, created to celebrate Ireland’s thriving operatic culture and to bring world‐class music into everyday spaces.

On Friday, May 1st, 2026, Lyric FM will broadcast a specially curated selection of operatic arias at noon. They said, “We are inviting businesses across Limerick and the surrounding areas to join us by tuning their in‐house radios or speakers to Lyric FM for this 15‐minute celebration of music.”

The purpose of the Initiative is to celebrate the 5TH birthday of the Limerick Opera Festival with a shared musical moment across the city.

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They hope to support local culture by spotlighting opera as an accessible,
vibrant art form; enhance visitor and customer experience through a unique, atmospheric musical interlude; and to strengthen community connection by uniting local businesses in a simple, collective action.

The groups are calling on Limerick businesses to support the initiative by, saying that participating is “simple and requires no preparation or cost”.

On May 1st, 2026 at exactly 12:00 noon they are asking businesses and the public to “turn on your radio or audio system. Tune to RTÉ Lyric FM. Allow the operatic arias to play for 15 minutes. Enjoy the shared citywide experience with your customers, guests, and staff.”

They say the benefits of participating in businesses include being part of a high-profile cultural initiative; enhance ambience and customer experience with beautiful, uplifting music; show support for Limerick’s arts and cultural community; and receive optional promotional assets, including posters, window stickers, and digital graphics identifying your business
as an Opera Friday Participant.

They are calling on participants to promote their participation on social media using #OperaFriday and #LimerickOperaFestival, advising businesses to “invite customers to join you at noon for a short musical moment. Host a small Opera Friday-themed coffee or lunchtime offer. Create an ‘Opera Table’ or display featuring festival information.
About the Partners”.

RTÉ Lyric FM, based in Limerick, is Ireland’s national classical music and arts radio station. For decades it has championed opera, orchestral music, voice, creativity, and Irish artists.

Dr. Gail Henry, RTÉ Lyric FM said, “At RTÉ lyric fm, we’re delighted to support Opera Friday, helping bring opera out into the community and making it something everyone in Limerick can enjoy. It’s about keeping the music alive and part of everyday life for people across the city and county.”

Ger Reidy, Festival Director, Limerick Opera Festival said, “The Opera Friday project embodies the spirit of what we want the Limerick Opera Festival to be—a space where emerging and established artists can explore opera in new and exciting ways, and where audiences can engage with the artform in a more immediate, contemporary context. Partnering with RTÉ Lyric FM allows us to extend that vision nationwide. Their support ensures that the creativity happening here in Limerick reaches listeners everywhere, strengthening our shared commitment to championing opera and the artists who bring it to life.”

They are also inviting supporters to join them for Live Operatic Arias in the Milk Market at 1.30 PM on Friday, May 1, for Opera Friday – Arias for Peace to finish up their 5th Birthday celebration of the Limerick Opera Festival!