Forecaster Joanna Donnelly bids farewell to RTÉ
Irish meteorologist Joanna Donnelly delivered her final weather forecast on RTÉ’s Nine O’Clock News on Monday night, marking the end of her broadcasting tenure.
Concluding her forecast, Donnelly announced, “That is my last forecast … goodnight and goodbye.”
The Met Éireann forecaster, whose career spans nearly 30 years, has not clarified whether she will continue her role with the national weather service.
Addressing speculation on social media, Donnelly posted on Instagram from Dublin Airport on April 22, 2025, before departing for a holiday with her husband, Harm Luijkx, also a Met Éireann meteorologist.
She stated, “A lot of people have been asking if I will talk. No, I’ll talk next week when I’m back.”
A Dublin City University graduate with a degree in Applied Mathematics, Donnelly joined Met Éireann in 1995 as a meteorological assistant, becoming a meteorologist in 2000.
She began forecasting on RTÉ Radio 1 in 2002 and transitioned to television on RTÉ One and RTÉ2 in 2015, earning recognition for her warm and engaging presentation style.
Beyond broadcasting, Donnelly is an accomplished author, having published The Great Irish Weather Book (2018), From Malin Head to Mizen Head (2023), and The Good Gut Guide (2024).
In 2010, she co-founded Pomegranate, a charity supporting families with fertility treatment costs, inspired by her personal journey.
In 2025, she competed on Dancing with the Stars Ireland, reaching week six.
Donnelly resides in Portmarnock, Dublin, with her husband and their three children.
Her departure from RTÉ signals a new chapter for the multifaceted meteorologist.
