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The Irish Sun
23-04-2025
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
‘I have to look after myself' says Joanna Donnelly as she breaks silence and reveals reason she quit RTE News
JOANNA Donnelly has finally broken her silence on her shock exit from RTE News. The meteorologist announced her departure from Met Eireann during her final forecast on RTE's Nine O'Clock News on Monday night. 3 Joanna Donnelly has announced she is stepping down from Met Eireann 3 Joanna broke her silence on the news on Instagram 3 Joanna admitted it was a 'hard decision' The Dubliner has been broadcasting on Radio 1 since February 2002. has been flooded with messages from fans wondering why she left. In a short clip posted to her star admitted she has been feeling "overwhelmed" by the response. The presenter said: "The messages of support I have been receiving, I am genuinely shocked at the reaction." READ MORE IN JOANNA DONNELLY Joanna then cleared the air regarding her exit, adding: "This is not a decision I came to lightly by any means. "It was a very, very hard decision to make." The former family . Joanna revealed that she would not be back on screens "for a while" and added: "I have to take some time and look after myself." MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN The news star went on to thank her followers for their many messages over the past few days. She emphasised: "I seriously can't believe how many messages of kindness and support I have received. Joanna Donnelly signs off air "I am really, really touched and as I said it was a very hard decision to make. But I think it was the right one." The mum-of-three joined Met Eireann in 1995, working as a meteorological officer before being But she became a star of the small screen when she started fronting weather bulletins on RTE One and 2 in December 2015. COLOURFUL CAREER In 2018, Joanna penned an illustrated book called The Great Irish Weather Book. Joanna then launched her second book, Malin Head to Mizen Head, which is a journey around Ireland's Sea Area Forecast in 2023. The 54-year-old is married to fellow forecaster, Harm Luijkx, who hails from The The weather presenter met Harm while on a training course with Met Eireann. Harm has also worked with Met Eireann and together they have three children , a daughter Nicci, and two sons, Tobias and Casper.
Irish Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- Climate
- Irish Daily Mirror
Joanna Donnelly's life away from weather as star departs RTE
If there was anyone who knew about the weather, it was Joanna Donnelly. But the mum-of-three leads a seasonal life outside of RTE, away from weather maps and storm warnings. Joanna is an avid cyclist and runner who loves her fashion, showcasing a very classy and chic style while presenting the weather. But it was this year that fans got to know the weather woman when she signed up to Dancing with the Stars earlier this year. She was the third celebrity to be voted out of the show with her pro dance partner Maciej Zieba. But during her stint on the glitzy RTE show, Joanna came to blows with former Mrs Brown's Boys star Rory Cowan who accused the weather broadcaster of 'alarmist scaremongering' when the country became gripped in sub zero temperatures in January. Mr Cowan posted on X: 'The national broadcaster and those in the know say there's a serious weather event in Ireland. They issued a warning about it over the last few days. What serious weather event? I haven't seen much evidence of it so far'. Joanna responded sarcastically to Mr Cowan at the time saying: 'Rory you should take a drive to Limerick, bring a care package to the vulnerable there trying to cope. Oh and DON'T check your tread depth or tyre pressure before you set off. DON'T steer in to a skid, just slam on your brakes really hard if you start to slide…be grand.' He then retorted: 'Or I could just use my common sense and not buy into the alarmist scaremongering.' Away from reporting on the weather, Joanna is also an author. In 2018, Joanna penned an illustrated book called The Great Irish Weather Book. Joanna then launched her second book, Malin Head to Mizen Head, which is a journey around Ireland's Sea Area Forecast in 2023. Away from public life, Joanna is married to fellow Met Eireann forecaster, Harm Luijkx, from The Netherlands and the couple have three children, a daughter Nicci, and two sons, Tobias and Casper. Her eldest, Nicci, and her youngest, Casper, she had naturally but she had her middle child Tobias through IVF. Joanna opened up about her journey in 2016, saying "it wasn't fair" her third child was conceived naturally after going having her second through IVF. The Dubliner said at the time: "My middle child was IVF. Afterwards, I got pregnant naturally and I just thought, 'Well that isn't fair' - there are people in a terrible position of never being able to afford IVF. "People seem to know that IVF is very expensive and it is, but they often don't realise that the run-up to IVF is also very expensive. "You don't just wake up one morning and say, 'I am going for IVF; you have all the scans, all the tests, which have usually depleted people's savings before they go anywhere near a private hospital for IVF. I just thought, 'That isn't right,' so we set up Pomegranate." She co-found Pomegranate, alongside her friend Fiona McPhillips, which is a charity that provides help for those suffering from infertility.
Extra.ie
22-04-2025
- Climate
- Extra.ie
Inside Joanna Donnelly's family life following RTÉ departure
Joanna Donnelly shocked RTÉ viewers on Bank Holiday Monday as she revealed it would be her last weather broadcast. The meteorologist frequently reported the forecast following the news, with her forecast after the 9pm news on Monday marking her surprise final appearance. The Dublin native took to social media explaining that she had been with Met Éireann for almost 30 years, and presenting the weather for around ten. Joanna Donnelly shocked RTÉ viewers on Bank Holiday Monday as she revealed it would be her last weather forecast broadcast. Pic: RTÉ 'We'll see what happens next,' she teased, before signing off from her Instagram Stories. The mum-of-three has previously expressed a desire to relocate to the Netherlands, where her husband Harm is from. Here is a look at Joanna's life and career as she gets set for a new chapter… Joanna Donnelly has previously expressed a desire to relocate to the Netherlands where her husband Harm is from. Pic: Tom Honan Joanna has worked as a meteorologist with Met Éireann for almost 30 years, and has been presenting the weather forecast following the RTÉ News for just under ten years. The forecaster got her education in Dublin City University where she studied Applied Maths. As well as fronting the TV forecast, Joanna has been delivering the forecast on RTÉ Radio 1 since the early 2000s. Joanna Donnelly has worked as a meteorologist with Met Éireann for almost 30 years. Pic: Fran Veale On Monday, the 54-year-old confirmed that her post-9pm news forecast would be her final one as she bid farewell. As well as weather forecasting, Joanna is also an accomplished author. In 2018, The Great Irish Weather Book was published and is a book all about making the weather easier to understand for children. From Malin Head to Mizen Head was published in 2023. Joanna has been married to fellow meteorologist Harm Luijkx since 2004, with the pair meeting in 2001 when they were both sent to the UK for training. Pic: Joanna Donnelly/ Instagram Joanna has been married to fellow meteorologist Harm Luijkx since 2004, with the pair meeting in 2001 when they were both sent to the UK for training — Harm had been sent from the Netherlands, while Joanna came from Dublin. Previously speaking to EVOKE, Joanna revealed the pair were 'friends first' and 'were out all of the time.' Joanna added that it was a mutual friend's wedding that kick-started their own romance with them getting 'intoxicated and ending up together.' The couple share three children together — Nicci, Tobias and Casper. Nicci was born in 2005 and is paving her way as a model and artist. The young lady is currently signed to Not Another INTL. The couple share three children together — Nicci, Tobias and Casper. Nicci was born in 2005 and is paving her way as a mode and artist. The young lady is currently signed to Not Another INTL. Pic: Instagram/ Joanna Donnelly In 2010, Joanna joined forces with pal Fiona McPhillips to set up Pomegranate, a charity which was founded to help those suffering from infertility. The women explained that infertility was a medical condition that affects many, with the charity believing that 'the opportunity to start a family should not be a privilege reserved for the few.' The charity closed its doors after eleven and a half years but had helped 36 couples with the provision of IVF throughout its time active. Earlier this year, Joanna joined the line-up for RTÉ's Dancing with the Stars, partnering up with new professional dancer, Maciej Zieba. Some of the dances Joanna and Maciej danced included the Waltz, the Samba, Quickstep and Tango. The pair fell victim to the dreaded dance-off in week six, bowing out after going up against Aishah Akorede and Robert Rowinksi.
Irish Times
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Mystery surrounds Joanna Donnelly's sudden departure from RTÉ weather forecasting role
Joanna Donnelly , one of the most high-profile weather presenters in Ireland, has announced she is stepping down from her forecasting role on RTÉ . Ms Donnelly has been a regular fixture on RTÉ for the last decade having joined Met Éireann almost 30 years ago in August 1995. She concluded her last televised broadcast on Monday night by stating: 'And that is my last forecast ... goodnight and goodbye.' She later elaborated on Instagram, saying her departure 'has nothing to do with my work product. I have always given the very best I could possibly give to the weather forecast. READ MORE 'I hope anybody that is wondering what happened – it wasn't the forecast.' Posting on Instagram from Dublin Airport, shortly before leaving for a holiday with her husband Harm Luijkx, who is also a Met Éireann forecaster, she said: 'A lot of people have been asking if I will talk. No, I'll talk next week when I'm back.' When contacted, Ms Donnelly said she remains a Met Éireann forecaster 'for now' and would not elaborate on the reasons why she is no longer presenting the weather forecast, saying she would do so at a later date. Ms Donnelly's profile increased with her presence on the Dancing with the Stars competition this year. In February she became the first celebrity dancer to be eliminated via a dance-off. She has also written two books, The Great Irish Weather Book, for children and From Malin Head to Mizen Head: A Journey Around The Sea Area Forecast published in 2023. She is a regular commentator on weather and STEM issues especially relating to women. Ms Donnelly recently posted on X that many people in society don't like smart women. ''Don't be so smart'. If I had a penny for every time I was told not to be so smart I'd be handing in my notice and heading to the beach. What's so wrong with being smart? Or is that just for difficult women?' She elaborated that the phrase was used to her in a 'formal setting. So it's in the official record' and she said she had it in writing. When asked what she was referring to, she said: 'Coming soon. Not being evasive. Just can't say right now. But it will become clear very soon.' Met Éireann said it did not comment on individual employees, saying it 'appreciates the dedication and commitment of all staff in the continued delivery of weather and climate services'.
