Joanna Donnelly Leaving RTÉ: Why She Left and What’s Next

When Joanna Donnelly signed off from RTÉ’s Nine O’Clock News on April 22, 2025, she told viewers it was her last forecast. What followed was a story that went far beyond a weather presenter leaving the airwaves.

Years at RTÉ: 10 ·
Date of departure: April 22, 2025 ·
Reason cited: Chronic stress and worsening work conditions

Ten facts about Joanna Donnelly, one pattern: her departure wasn’t about the weather — it was about the workplace.

Why Did Joanna Donnelly Leave RTE?

What conditions led to her departure?

Donnelly told The Irish Times in August 2025 that she left because of chronic stress linked to deteriorating working conditions The Irish Times (established Irish newspaper). She said the stress had been building for a couple of years and that she initially thought her fatigue might be menopause or a post-viral issue before realising it was stress The Irish Times. She spent money on doctor visits and blood tests trying to identify the cause The Irish Times.

According to Extra.ie, Donnelly received a third disciplinary warning in April 2025 for judging a science competition without prior authorisation Extra.ie (Irish entertainment news). The same outlet reported that she reached breaking point after an Easter Sunday incident involving a minor car accident and a roadside confrontation Extra.ie.

What did she say in her sign-off?

On April 22, 2025, during the Nine O’Clock News, Donnelly simply said: “This is my last forecast.” The Irish Times. She later described the decision as “very, very tough” The Sun Ireland (Irish edition of tabloid) and said it had nothing to do with her work product EVOKE (Irish lifestyle).

How did Met Éireann respond?

Met Éireann has not issued a public statement about Donnelly’s departure. The Irish Times reported that her exit was from her high-profile forecasting role in the national meteorological service The Irish Times.

What Is Joanna Donnelly Doing Now?

Will she remain in meteorology?

Donnelly left her high-profile forecasting role in Met Éireann The Irish Times. She has not announced any immediate plans to return to broadcasting or meteorology. In interviews, she said she needed time to look after her health and family EVOKE.

Has she taken a new role?

No immediate announcement of a new role has been made. The Irish Times reported that she appeared on Dancing with the Stars in January 2025, but that was before her departure The Irish Times.

What are her future plans?

Donnelly has not publicly detailed her future career plans. The departure marked the end of nearly 30 years on Irish screens and radio, according to WeathÉire WeathÉire (Irish weather news).

What Is Joanna Donnelly’s Background?

How old is Joanna Donnelly?

Joanna Donnelly is 54 years old, according to public biographical records Wikipedia.

What is her education?

Donnelly studied meteorology and worked at Met Éireann for a decade before becoming a weather presenter on RTÉ The Irish Times. She also spent time on radio and television, becoming a familiar face on Irish screens.

What is her career history?

Donnelly joined RTÉ as a weather presenter in 2015 The Irish Times. Before that, she worked as a meteorologist at Met Éireann. Extra.ie reported that she left after 29 years of service, indicating a long career in meteorology before her TV role Extra.ie.

Who Is Joanna Donnelly’s Family?

Who is Joanna Donnelly’s husband?

Donnelly is married, but her husband’s name and details are not publicly disclosed in the available sources EVOKE.

How many children does she have?

She has children, but the number and names are not publicly available EVOKE.

Does she have a sister?

No information about a sister was found in the provided sources. This detail remains unclear.

What Is Joanna Donnelly’s Salary and Net Worth?

What is Joanna Donnelly’s salary?

Her salary is not publicly disclosed. RTÉ does not typically release individual presenter salaries for lower-profile talent, and no figure has appeared in the research sources.

Does she wear hair extensions?

No information about hair extensions was found in the provided sources. This is not a topic covered in any of the available articles.

What is her net worth?

Net worth is not publicly disclosed. No reliable estimates exist in the provided research.

For RTÉ and Met Éireann, the departure of a 10-year veteran raises questions about how public service broadcasters handle workplace stress. Donnelly’s case is not just one person’s exit — it’s a signal that chronic stress in Irish media workplaces can drive even the most dedicated professionals away. For the Irish public, the challenge is clear: demand better mental health support for the people who deliver the news and the weather, or risk losing more trusted voices. The pattern here is that a trusted public figure walked away from a dream job because the system failed to protect her.