Mr Lyons, a Lugarno resident since 1980, plans to put the energy that went into producing a weekly radio program for the Irish community into more study and pastoral work.

But he does intend to spend more time with granddaughter Riley.

Almost 67, Mr Lyons has been associated with the community radio station for 32 years, volunteering in various roles: presenter, producer and sponsor.

His program has listeners in Ireland, the US and elsewhere, and just about everybody has been on it including the president of Ireland Mary McAleese, various politicians and the most famous Irish musicians.

"After 32 years it was time to hand it over to someone with more energy, someone younger," he said.

For the past six years, since giving up his car dealership business, Mr Lyons has been employed as a chaplain at St Vincent's Hospital, a role which he intends to expand with further study.

He is especially interested in pastoral care with the aged.

When still in the car industry he helped out at Wesley Mission and was involved with the Irish Welfare Bureau.

"I've always been involved in pastoral care and this seems like a natural progression," Mr Lyons said.

Mr Lyons was inducted into the 2SER Hall of Fame in 2011.

"The station wouldn't be on air without the efforts of volunteers like Mr Lyons," managing director Melanie Withnall said.

The Sunday morning Irish program will be taken over by fellow Irishman Barry Mack.

¦ 2SER is a not-for-profit, independent community station, which broadcasts to the greater Sydney area on 107.3 FM, digital radio and on the web via www.2ser.com.