I am an experienced manager / editor in Music, News, Current Affairs, Features and Documentaries with a technical background in the recording industry and radio. In late 2020 I started on a new path in life - retirement, which has brought me back to my initial roots in music participation.

My name is Aodán Ó Dubhghaill [Dubh = black, Gall = foreigner]

I have been involved in the Irish Music scene since the 1970s. After studying music for 10+ years my main early source of work was as a musician and later as a Producer / Sound engineer when I made documentaries, audio features, commercial CDs and Tapes for several artists.

I joined R.T.É. in 1979 as a "disc man" and over the early years worked in the newsroom and the Dáil studios as well as on day-time live radio programmes. Later I joined the Senior Sound Engineering staff where I worked in multi-microphone situations (Orchestras, Rock Bands, Ensemble Groups, String Quartets, Traditional/ Folk Bands, etc.) as well as in the Drama Suite and on Outside Broadcasts. I recorded many international as well as Irish musicians and worked with well-known conductors and soloists. I published a book titled ‘Ceirníní – a guide to Traditional Irish Music on LP Records’ in 1986.

In 1998 I was involved with the setting up of a new National Music & Arts Radio Channel, Lyric FM, and worked there as Producer of the popular daily request programme as well a World Music programme called 'Reels to Ragas'. In 2002 I took over as Head of the station.

I have served on a variety of arts and culture boards over the years and was Vice-chair of the European Broadcasting Union Music Group.

In 2013/14 I was seconded to look after RTÉ’s Orchestras, Quartet and Choirs {The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, RTÉ Contempo Quartet, Philharmonic Choir and Cór na nÓg, the children's choir}.

In 2016 I was appointed Managing Director of the Orchestras, RTÉ lyric fm, the Quartet and Choirs where I started a new Youth Choir in September 2018 called Cór Linn.

I have won many awards over the years from Prix Italia, PPI Radio awards (including National Station of the Year, Music Station of the Year, Station Sound, Best Overall Station of the Year), New York Festivals awards, etc.

After working for nearly 50 years I have now gone back to my first love - the fiddle, and I have immersed myself in college life at the University of Limerick to partake in an MA in Traditional Music Performance.

Next: TRADITIONAL LP’s 1950’s-1980’s - a Catalogue of Irish Traditional and Folk Music issued on Long-Playing vinyl records