Updated at 16.20
RTÉ PRESENTER MICHAEL Lyster has confirmed he will retire at the end of the 2018 GAA season.
Speaking on the Ray D’Arcy Show this afternoon, Lyster said he’ll be hanging up his microphone after his 35th year as presenter of The Sunday Game.
“I’m leaving next year, I’m not leaving immediately or anything,” he told D’Arcy. “There’s a bit of work to go before I’m out the door yet.
“I’ll be hanging up my hat at the end of 2018. I’ve a full season of top class GAA action to get through with the National Leagues and of course the championships this summer and that’s what I’m focused on.”
The Galway native joined RTÉ from the Tuam Herald back in 1979 and will retire once he reaches the national broadcaster’s mandatory retirement age of 65.
“The difference between me and other presenters in RTÉ is I am a full-time staff member,” he explained. “So there is therefore a retirement cut-off age and I will be reaching that next year. I’m not on contract.”
“So I suppose the question is, do you want to go?” asked D’Arcy.
“I can’t say that I want to go,” Lyster replied after a short pause, “but then I can’t say I don’t either.
“This year is my 35th year presenting The Sunday Game and that’s not a bad innings. On a second note to that, next year I’ll be 40 years in RTÉ so I think you deserve the t-shirt at that stage.
“Following my health scare a few years ago, every day and every year was a bonus. That’s the mindset I’ve continued to have and I’ll feel incredibly lucky to have another season to look forward to at the helm.”
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…..some leadership skills….well deserved
Traitor. No Irish man should accept that.
@Sean Barry: no Irish man should play for England!
@Sean Barry: ah yes. He’s captain of 1 day teams. Integral to transformation of their culture. On millions a yr from this role and he should turn down meaningless platitudes?
But can he graze his sheep in Stephens green ??
@Ger Lyons: trafalger square
@Ger Lyons: Trafalgar square
@Parnells Eighty-Seven: Trafalgar Square is not even half as leafy as Stephen’s Green so he will end up with really lean lamb.
As they say never look ‘a gift horse in the mouth”he plays cricket for an english team like many people who are not from that country like Andrew Strauss ,Ted Dexter and many many more,he was selected to do so and is a damn good player
For England old chap