'We want our lives back': The 2 Johnnies explain decision to leave RTÉ 2FM 

The 2 Johnnies Do America - Johnny B and Johnny Smack. Picture: Ruth Medjber

The 2 Johnnies have said that their decision to leave RTÉ2FM came down to something 'having to go'.

The Tipperary duo - Johnny B and Johnny Smacks - had been fronting the drivetime show on the station for two years.

They will host their final show on May 31, having announced earlier this week they would be stepping away.

It was part of three major departures from 2FM in recent weeks, with Doireann Garrihy and Jennifer Zamparelli also deciding to leave the broadcaster.

Speaking to The Brendan O'Connor Show on Radio 1 on Saturday morning, Johnny B explained the main factors which led them to their decision.

He said: "We haven’t time. To be honest, we’ve been working seven days a week for the last two years, and we’re working all day today and all day tomorrow again on our new show."

The pair had a successful brand prior to joining RTÉ, with a number of live shows selling out around the country, while their podcast was continued throughout their time as hosts on the radio.

Johnny B continued: "If we ever want to have our lives back, unfortunately radio was the one that had to go. And we loved doing it, Brendan."

Johnny Smacks noted that money wasn't an issues, saying that the radio was "never our main gig."

"You can’t keep working seven days a week forever. We want our lives back."

"Radio is magical. Before we went into it, we weren’t listening to a lot of radio. And then we got into it and we could see the connection you make with people.

"That’s the biggest thing we have and that’s the mothership. Everything revolves around that."

RTÈ 2FM will announce its summer schedule in the coming weeks