'I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye': Joanna Donnelly bids farewell to Met Éireann

The meteorologist shared a goodbye message on Instagram following her final forecast report on Monday

Joanna Donnelly concluded her final report on Monday by saying: "And that is my last forecast... goodnight and goodbye.” Picture: Moya Nolan.

Met Éireann’s Joanna Donnelly has bid farewell to RTÉ Weather viewers as she announced her departure from the national forecaster.

She said goodbye to viewers as she delivered her last forecast after the Nine O'Clock News on Monday.

Donnelly concluded her report on Monday by saying: "And that is my last forecast... goodnight and goodbye.”

The meteorologist took to Instagram stories on Monday evening to “say goodbye” and to reflect on her 30-year career.

“I’m home. I have my wine in my hand and I saw all these loads and loads of new people following me, and I thought why are all these people following me? What have I done?,” she said.

“And then I realised, of course, people probably want to know why I said goodbye. I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.

“I’ve been on the weather forecast for nearly ten years, I think, at this stage, between training and being operational.

“I've had a great time, it's been a great experience, I've gotten so much out of it, not least the Dancing with the Stars.” 

Meteorologist and author Joanna Donnelly with her pro dance partner Maciej Zieba during Dancing with the Stars. Picture: Kyran O’Brien/kobpix.

She went on to say that she always gave the very best that she could have possibly given to the weather forecast.

“So, I'm hoping anybody that’s wondering what happened, it wasn't the forecast,” she said.

Joanna then reflected on the past 30 years with Met Éireann, which she joined in August 1995 during a “glorious heatwave”.

“I’m on TV nearly 10 years. 30 years just went by in the blink of an eye. Now what? I don’t know, we’ll see what happens next. Chapter three,” she said.