WLR has announced a major new addition to its weekday schedule, with John Keane taking over the station’s new-look lunchtime programme, ‘Live Lunch’ with John Keane.

Broadcasting from 12 noon to 3pm, Monday to Friday, Live Lunch will bring listeners three hours of great music, lively features, local voices, interviews, competitions and plenty of chances to win.

A familiar and much-loved voice on WLR, John will put Waterford at the heart of the programme, speaking to the people making news and creating conversation across the city and county.

The show will include ‘Keane on the County’, a daily feature taking John out and about across Waterford to meet local characters, visit communities and capture the stories that make the Déise a great place to live and work.

The final hour of the programme will become the new Retro Rewind Hour, featuring classic tracks and forgotten favourites from across the 80’s to the 00s. Listeners will also be invited to request the songs that bring back their own special memories.

Speaking about the new programme, John Keane said:

“I’m absolutely delighted to be taking over lunch on WLR. We’re putting together a show with loads of brilliant music, local voices, interesting guests and a bit of craic along the way.

“I’m particularly looking forward to Keane on the County. Waterford is full of great people and great stories, and we want to get out there and bring those voices onto the radio. Then, from two o’clock, we’ll turn back the clock with the Retro Rewind Hour. It’ll be three hours with plenty of energy, nostalgia and surprises.”

Michael Byrne, CEO of WLR, said Live Lunch will strengthen the station’s commitment to entertaining, engaging and distinctly local radio.

“John Keane is one of Waterford’s most recognisable and trusted broadcasters, and he’s the perfect person to lead our new lunch show.

“Live Lunch will have everything our listeners love about WLR: great music, strong local content, familiar voices, interesting interviews and fantastic giveaways. John has a natural connection with audiences across Waterford, and we’re excited to hear him bring that personality and energy to lunchtime.”

Live Lunch with John Keane airs from 12 noon to 3pm, Monday to Friday, on WLR.

Listeners can tune in on FM, online at wlrfm.com, through the WLR app or on their smart speaker.