Joanna Donnelly Speaks About ‘Dream Job’
Former Met Éireann meteorologist and RTÉ weather presenter Joanna Donnelly has opened up about her career and recent departure from broadcasting.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Donnelly described her time as a weather forecaster as a “dream career.” She recalled the emotional moment when she first learned she had secured the role: “I cried the night I found out I got that job.”
Reflecting on her decision to leave RTÉ, she shared, “From the work that I did, the forecasting, I loved that. The broadcasting was easy and fun. It wasn’t that. There were other stressors, so I’ll tell you all about it.”
Donnelly delivered her final weather forecast on RTÉ’s Nine O’Clock News in April 2025, closing with the words, “That is my last forecast … goodnight and goodbye.” Her departure marked the end of nearly 30 years on Irish screens and radios.
A graduate of Dublin City University with a degree in Applied Mathematics, Donnelly began her career at Met Éireann in 1995, becoming a fully qualified meteorologist in 2000. She started forecasting on RTÉ Radio 1 in 2002 before moving to television in 2015, where her warm and engaging style earned her widespread recognition.
Beyond meteorology, Joanne is an accomplished author and charity co-founder, and she recently took part in Dancing with the Stars Ireland.
