Ms Donnelly unexpectedly signed off from her broadcast last night following the 9pm news with: “And that was my last forecast”.
Viewers on Sunday night were unsure whether she was signing off for the night or was announcing her departure for good.
“I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye. I had been on the weather forecast for nearly 10 years,” she said on Instagram last night, addressing the confusion.
Ms Donnelly said she had a great time presenting the weather forecast, which she labelled as a “great experience”, and said she really enjoyed participating in last season’s Dancing with the Stars.
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – April 22nd
She became the third contestant to be eliminated from the gameshow, exiting on Eurovision song night after scoring 23 points with dance partner Maciej Zieba.
“I do want to say my leaving has nothing to do with my work product. I’ve always given the very best I could to the weather forecast.
“So I hope anybody wondering what happened, it wasn’t the forecast,” the 54-year-old Dubliner said via her Instagram story.
“To say I’m overwhelmed by the messages of support I’ve received, I can’t believe it. I’m genuinely shocked at the reaction,” Ms Donnelly told followers on social media this evening.
“I’d just like to say – I forgot to say this last night – this is not a decision I came to lightly by any means.
“It was a very, very hard decision to make but I think it was the right one to make for me and for my family and there’ll be more news in the coming while but not just yet, not for a while,” she added.
“I have to take some time now and look after myself, look after my own health and that of my family and I thank you all so, so much for all of the – I can’t believe how many – messages of kindness and support.
“I’m really, really touched. I really appreciate it. As I said, it was a very hard decision to make but I think it was the right one. Thank you.”
Asked whether it wished to comment on her departure, a Met Éireann spokesperson said: “While Met Éireann does not comment on individual employees, we appreciate the dedication and commitment of all staff in the continued delivery of weather and climate services.”
On whether Met Éireann could clarify whether Joanna Donnelly left Met Éireann or has just finished broadcasting with RTÉ, a spokesperson said: “As a matter of process, Met Éireann does not comment on individual employees.”
Ms Donnelly started with Met Éireann in August 1995 in the middle of a heatwave that summer. “It has flown by,” the mother-of-three said.
She reflected on her time at the national forecaster, which coincided with a struggle with infertility in her private life.
“I’m on TV nearly 10 years, but 30 years [at Met Éireann} has flown by. And now what? I don’t know, we will see what happens next. Chapter three,” she said.
She married fellow meteorologist Harm Luijkx in 2000. They have three children together, Nicci, Tobias and Casper, and reside in Portmarnock, Co Dublin.
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