RTE star Claire Byrne has broken her silence on deciding to leave her prime time panel show Claire Byrne Live - revealing that her work life was having a major impact on her time with family.
The current affairs programme is now off the air, after Claire announced back in May that she was stepping back from her role as presenter.
It had been on our screens for more than seven years, while Claire still presents Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1, Monday to Friday from 10am.
READ MORE: RTE's Claire Byrne announces she is quitting her TV show, Claire Byrne Live
But in a new interview, the Laois native has revealed that family was key to her decision to give up the panel show.
Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Claire said: "My children accept that I am gone every morning before they wake up. But my youngest never accepted that I had to walk back out the door on a Monday - having only spent an hour with them on a Monday afternoon.'
"She cried every time I left the house on a Monday. Every time. It broke my heart. She is five years old and she is starting school next week."
Claire did have the overwhelming support of her husband Gerry, but realised that she had to be 'written off' on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for her family due to her commitments with both radio and TV.
After talks with the national broadcaster failed to provide a resolution, Claire made the "big call" to step back.
She continued: "My guess is that it wasn’t expected in RTE. But I feel very strong and I feel like it took guts and courage. I feel like I took back my own power in making that call.
"I think it is a pity that RTE has lost the Claire Byrne Live brand. I do think that’s a pity
"If I were RTE, I would probably regret losing that Claire Byrne Live brand. Because I do think it was a good programme and I think the audience like it. So maybe there is potential for the programme to come back down in line in a different place or in a different way."
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