Latest news with #JoannaDonnelly
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
‘Leaving the role I loved was a terrible trauma' – Former RTE star lifts lid on real reason she quit station
The TV star told how she experienced a 'steady deterioration in working conditions' JO'S DONE 'Leaving the role I loved was a terrible trauma' – Former RTE star lifts lid on real reason she quit station EX-RTE star Joanna Donnelly has opened up about the "devastating" end to her role at Met Eireann. Meteorologist Joanna Donnelly left her forecasting role in Met Eireann back in April claiming it was a "very, very tough decision". 2 Joanna Donnelly quit her role in Met Eireann in April 2025 Credit: RTE 2 Joanna has admitted she left the station due to 'chronic stress and fatigue' At the time, Joanna confessed that she left the station as she felt it was the "right move" for herself and her family. However, in a recent interview with the Irish Independent, the 54-year-old revealed she took a step back from her role due to "chronic stress and fatigue". The Dublin native told how she had excellent colleagues at Met Eireann. But noted how their were too many restrictions in workplace which even extended to her volunteer work in the community. This included having to ask for permission every time she visited a school to talk to students about science. She said: "It started out that I had to ask for permission if I was to appear in the media in an area unrelated to my job. My initial interpretation was that if there was no conflict of interest with my work as a weather forecaster, then it shouldn't matter." Joanna explained how she experienced a "steady deterioration in working conditions" as the station eroded simple things in which her team took for granted. This included a fixed rotating roster that was "predictable, fair and balanced". After years of built-up stress, Donnelly noticed herself getting hit by a wave of "chronic fatigue". She remarked: "I am a usually fit and healthy person. I run, I swim, I cycle everywhere and I do a daily yoga practice. I don't smoke and I only drink to excess at book club. RTE release new trailer for The Traitors Ireland and reveal date it will hit screens - and it's sooner that you think "I blamed Covid. I blamed post-Covid. I blamed post-viral infections. I blamed menopause. In fact, I mostly blamed menopause." Joanna told how she spent a "fortune" at the doctors who took blood tests to try and "unearth what was wrong". She added: "No one ever suspected it could have been that I was stressed. Why would I have been stressed by a job that I loved, that inspired me and, even better, allowed me to inspire others?" Donnelly said that being employed by Met Eireann was her dream job and that she never imagined she would leave it. 'THIS IS NOT RIGHT' The TV star continued: "Nobody else could imagine me leaving either, and I think that was part of the problem. I kept saying, 'You can't do this. This is not right.' "But they thought 'What is she going to do?' It is very hard to leave. I was traumatised." Joanna went on to say that while it was scary to think about re-entering the job market in her 50s, she knew she had made the correct decision in leaving. And Met Eireann recently made a statement indicating that it was unable to comment on what Donnelly had said about her time there. The department clarified in the Sunday Independent: "Met Eireann, the Irish National Meteorological Service, is a line division of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. "As an employer, the department has a duty to its employees not to disclose any information of a personal nature and accordingly, the department does not comment on any matters related to individual members of staff. "As a Division of a Civil Service Department, all employees of Met Eireann are civil servants."
The Journal
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Journal
Forecaster who quit role on-air now working on two books - including one with 'personal' focus
FORMER MET ÉIREANN forecaster Joanna Donnelly says she intends to devote more time to writing, after she quit her role at the weather service in dramatic fashion by announcing her departure live on TV back in April. The meteorologist broke her silence on the reasons for her decision yesterday, writing a column for the Sunday Independent in which she detailed her disputes with Met Éireann management, including a row about rosters and a disagreement over outside engagements. Donnelly was one of the highest-profile forecasters during her time at RTÉ, presenting regular TV bulletins and penning several books about the weather, including a bestselling reference book for children. At the start if the year she joined the line-up of RTÉ's Dancing with the Stars, becoming the third celebrity to be eliminated in a February episode of the show. Speaking to The Journal today Donnelly said she was weighing up a number of options for the future and confirmed she's writing two more books – one of which will be of a more personal nature. As of yet, there are no plans for a publication date. 'When there's a book in there, it needs to come out,' Donnelly said. 'So writing is, is in itself, a worthy thing to do, whether it becomes a published book or not, that's that's a different thing.' Donnelly detailed in her column yesterday how she had received her first warning from management in 2023 over a social media post about a second-hand hairdryer that she loved. Speaking today she said she was 'absolutely heartbroken' to be disciplined over something 'so silly'. This was during a time of heightened focus on social media posts by staff and anyone associated with RTÉ, coming in the wake of the Ryan Tubridy controversy and revelations about the broadcaster's barter account. Advertisement Other on-air hosts also found themselves in hot water with management around that time – notably Doireann Garrihy, who had posted a sponsored ad with Flahavan's porridge , taken in an RTÉ studio, on her Instagram in 2022. Separately, Lottie Ryan was ordered to remove a social media ad for a car company , that was filmed on RTÉ's campus without permission. 'It was around the time RTÉ were dealing with the Ryan Tubridy fallout and there was a close inspection of all our social media … it went through my social media historic posts,' Donnelly said. Donnelly says was asked to delete anything that might be construed as a sponsorship, which she says she did. When she made the later post about the hairdryer she said she didn't think anything of it as she had brought it secondhand – but she said the issue led to her receiving a warning. Even now, without the restrictions of RTÉ and Met Éireann, Donnelly says she has no plans to become an influencer. She said she was primarily focused on looking after herself and her family, and focusing on her writing. RTÉ declined to comment on Donnelly's departure. The national broadcaster uses a tender process to choose its forecaster. Met Éireann, having won the tender, provides the service, but RTÉ has no involvement in the forecaster's operations. Met Éireann has not yet responded to queries from The Journal but in a statement to the Independent the forecaster said: 'Met Éireann, the Irish National Meteorological Service, is a line division of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 'As an employer, the department has a duty to its employees not to disclose any information of a personal nature and accordingly, the department does not comment on any matters related to individual members of staff. 'As a Division of a Civil Service Department, all employees of Met Éireann are civil servants. 'Civil servants are obliged to work within certain standards, including under the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour. The department, and Met Éireann also have a policy on media and social media. 'Civil servants have recourse to the Civil Service Grievance Procedure for complaints such as those mentioned.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Climate
- Extra.ie
Joanna Donnelly opens up on real reason for sudden RTÉ departure
Veteran meteorologist Joanna Donnelly has finally broken her silence on her shock exit from RTÉ, revealing the real reason behind her sudden on-air farewell earlier this year. In an emotional first-person piece the 54-year-old described the 'whirlwind' of emotions leading up to her final weather forecast in April, when she stunned viewers by signing off with the unplanned words: 'And that was my last forecast. Goodnight and goodbye.' Writing in the article, she confessed that she had never 'intended to be coy,' and was always going to 'tell exactly what happened to give up' what she calls her dream job. Veteran meteorologist Joanna Donnelly has finally broken her silence on her shock exit from RTÉ, revealing the real reason behind her sudden on-air farewell earlier this year. Pic: Fran Veale Writing in the column for the Irish Independent, she explained: 'Leaving the role I loved so much was a terrible trauma… Choosing to stop was devastating, but losing friendships and valuable relationships to stress would have been worse.' Joanna states that things 'started to go awry' in 2018 following the release of her first book. Shortly afterwards, she was removed from the TV weather team and reassigned to undergo training in aviation weather forecasting, a move she says marked the beginning of a difficult period in her career. Writing in the article, she confessed that she had never 'intended to be coy,' and was always going to 'tell exactly what happened to give up' what she calls her dream job. Pic: Fran Veale The broadcaster stated that she 'saw a steady decline in working conditions' and claimed to have suffered 'horrible, chronic fatigue,' which she initially attributed to menopause before realising it was stress induced. Joanna said she believed much of the tension stemmed from her own interpretation of the civil service code of conduct. In her view, it should have been permissible to take part in media work outside her role, provided there was no conflict of interest with her duties as a weather forecaster. Joanna states that things 'started to go awry' in 2018 following the release of her first book. Pic: Tom Honan However, she claimed she was told otherwise, and informed she would need formal permission to do so. From that point on, she alleged, she had to seek approval before speaking about her work or even discussing the weather on radio. She also claimed Met Éireann reprimanded her over a light-hearted social media post about enjoying a hair dryer, and for opting to work from home on two occasions when she was unwell. 'After 29 years' service, I was not entitled to make a decision, without permission, in the best interest of the office and my colleagues. Management didn't care about my reasons,' she continued. In April 2025, Joanna said she was issued a third disciplinary warning, this time for judging a science competition without prior authorisation. That Easter Sunday, she realised something had to change. After cycling to visit her parents' grave, she was involved in a minor car accident. When the driver and passenger shouted at her, she admitted she 'lost her cool' and confronted the driver over his speed. Shaken, she phoned her husband, Harm, and told him she had reached her breaking point and had decided to leave her job. 'I knew if I continued as I was going, I would eventually lose my temper with the wrong person. A friend, a family member. I would destroy my relationships or I would destroy my health,' she confessed. In response to Joanna's column, Met Eireann said in a statement to The Independent: 'Met Éireann, the Irish National Meteorological Service, is a line division of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 'As an employer, the department has a duty to its employees not to disclose any information of a personal nature and accordingly, the department does not comment on any matters related to individual members of staff. 'As a Division of a Civil Service Department, all employees of Met Éireann are civil servants,' the statement continued. 'Civil servants are obliged to work within certain standards, including under the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour. The department, and Met Éireann also have a policy on media and social media.'
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Climate
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ex-RTE weather presenter Joanna Donnelly reveals real reason behind shock exit
Joanna Donnelly has lifted the lid on the shocking circumstances that led to her unexpected exit from RTE and Met Eireann earlier this year. The beloved television personality delivered her final weather forecast back in April, bidding farewell to live broadcasting and concluding a three-decade career in meteorology. She has now disclosed that despite her deep love for the role, the working environment was causing her immense strain. "Civil servant and public servant employment contracts are covered by the civil service code of behaviour. The interpretation of this code of behaviour is where my problems began," the broadcaster penned in the Sunday Independent. Joanna discovered the behavioural code to be incredibly limiting regarding her permitted activities, even during her personal time, reports RSVP Live. "It started out that I had to ask for permission if I was to appear in the media in an area unrelated to my job," she explained. "My initial interpretation was that if there was no conflict of interest with my work as a weather forecaster, then it shouldn't matter. "I was told I was wrong, and I had to ask permission to appear in the media outside of my routine work. I complied, but the interpretation of the code changed again. "Before long, I had to ask specific permission to do basic elements of my own job. If you ever heard me on the radio talking about a storm, or a heatwave, or just about the forecast for the weekend, I could only be there if formal permission had been given. Joanna Donnelly (Image: Instagram) Joanna Donnelly (Image: Instagram) "I needed permission to visit a school to talk about science, something we all used to just volunteer to do in our own time." In the past few years, Joanna found herself grappling with fatigue and health issues, which she later identified as severe stress. "I experienced a steady deterioration in working conditions, eroding simple things the team and I took for granted, like a fixed rotating roster that was predictable, fair and balanced," she recounted. "In recent years, I noticed I was getting hit by a horrible, chronic fatigue. I am a usually fit and healthy person. I run, I swim, I cycle everywhere and I do a daily yoga practice. I don't smoke and I only drink to excess at book club. I blamed Covid. I blamed post-Covid. I blamed post-viral infections. I blamed menopause. In fact, I mostly blamed menopause." She continued, "I dashed off to the doctor and got myself set up with my HRT treatment - I take so many supplements I have to count them in my daily calorie allocation." Come April, she decided it was time to put her mental well-being first and handed in her notice. "Leaving the role I loved so much was a terrible trauma," Joanna confessed. "But I also look back on all the weeks I was unwell, all the doctor visits, all the blood tests to try to unearth what was wrong with me, and I know I made the right decision. No one ever suspected it could have been that I was stressed. Why would I have been stressed by a job that I loved, that inspired me and, even better, allowed me to inspire others? "Choosing to stop was devastating, but losing friendships and valuable relationships to stress would have been worse." She continued: "I tried to fight. I made myself a difficult woman by trying to insist on better rosters. I stood my ground in defending my right to make good decisions for myself and for the office that were entirely in keeping with the civil service code of behaviour." Joanna acknowledged that hitting the job market again in her 50s is "daunting", yet she's embracing a more leisurely pace of life. "As a woman in my 50s, it's daunting now to be out in the job market," she remarked. "I'm asked constantly if I'm enjoying retirement. I'm asked what are my plans. So far I've repainted my whole house inside and out and have done a little mini-renovation of the bathrooms. I'm taking more time to do things I used to rush, like tending the roses and yoga poses." In a statement to the Sunday Independent, Met Éireann clarified: "Met Éireann, the Irish National Meteorological Service, is a line division of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage." The organisation emphasised that "As an employer, the department has a duty to its employees not to disclose any information of a personal nature and accordingly, the department does not comment on any matters related to individual members of staff." They further noted, "As a Division of a Civil Service Department, all employees of Met Éireann are civil servants." Highlighting professional expectations, they added, "Civil servants are obliged to work within certain standards, including under the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour. The department, and Met Éireann also have a policy on media and social media." Finally, they stated, "Civil servants have recourse to the Civil Service Grievance Procedure for complaints such as those mentioned." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Ex-RTÉ meteorologist Joanna Donnelly cites stress and worsening conditions for exit
Meteorologist Joanna Donnelly left her high-profile forecasting role in Met Éireann because of the chronic stress she experienced in ever-deteriorating work conditions, she has said. Ms Donnelly was a regular fixture on the weather forecast for a decade, having first joined Met Éireann in August 1995. She concluded her last televised broadcast on the RTÉ Nine O'Clock news on April 21st last by stating: 'And that is my last forecast ... goodnight and goodbye.' She stressed that she had excellent colleagues at Met Éireann. However, she said the workplace was overly controlling and that restrictions were even placed on her volunteer work in the community. This included having to ask for permission every time she visited a school to talk to students about science. The Dublin native noticed a change in work after she published a book in 2018. The first time she was disciplined was when she wrote on her social media that she had bought a particular brand of hairdryer second-hand and had loved the results, she said. She was also disciplined after she judged a science competition without permission. READ MORE In hindsight, Ms Donnelly, who also appeared on Dancing with the Stars in January 2025, believes that all of the restrictions left her permanently exhausted and stressed. [ Mystery surrounds Joanna Donnelly's sudden departure from RTÉ weather forecasting role Opens in new window ] 'It [the stress] was going on for a couple of years. I spent a fortune at the doctor. Taking bloods. Was it post-viral? It was stress and I didn't know, which is shocking,' she said. Ms Donnelly said that being employed by Met Éireann was her dream job and that she never imagined she would leave it. 'Nobody else could imagine me leaving either, and I think that was part of the problem. I kept saying 'You can't do this. This is not right. This is not the way to treat people.' 'But they thought 'What is she going to do?' It is very hard to leave. I was traumatised.' The DCU graduate believes there is an overly stringent interpretation of the Civil Service code of behaviour in Met Éireann. She adored her job and says she was never nervous on camera. 'I am flying in front of the camera. I always took every single weather forecast I issued 100 per cent seriously. I always did due diligence. 'But it was things like if I wasn't explicitly on shift assigned to a media role, I had to get permission to answer a query from a newspaper about the weather. Which often left newspapers and radio going elsewhere for their soundbite.' She said whatever her next job is, she hopes to be able to use her voice on the subject of climate change. 'I am going to use my voice going forward on that message of climate change,' she said. 'Where blame should be sent to and definitely not to the farmers.' Meanwhile, when contacted, Met Éireann issued a statement stating the national forecaster is a line division of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage . 'As an employer, the department has a duty to its employees not to disclose any information of a personal nature, and accordingly, the department does not comment on any matters related to individual members of staff. 'As a division of a Civil Service Department, all employees of Met Éireann are civil servants. Civil servants are obliged to work within certain standards, under the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour. The department, and Met Éireann, also have a policy on media and social media. 'Civil servants have recourse to the Civil Service grievance procedure for complaints such as those mentioned.'
