Aengus Mac Grianna is going back to college after leaving RTE.
The 54-year-old news anchor signed off for the last time earlier this month having accepted a redundancy package from the national broadcaster.
The Dubliner, who worked at the station for 31 years, plans to return to school but has not revealed what he will be studying.
He told the RTE Guide: “I’m really, really happy with the decision I’ve made and I know it’s the right one.
“It’s just tinged with sadness because I’m leaving people that I genuinely love.
“A key part of my life is over now but something new and exciting is also starting and I’m really looking forward to that and what may unfold with this new chapter.”
Although Aengus said he loved working at RTE, he confessed he had been thinking about stepping down from his job for a while.
He added: “I had been looking at it for a good while so when the redundancy offers came up it wasn’t as if I suddenly had to make a decision, it was already in my head.
“I wanted new challenges and experiences, to go out and see what else there is in that big wide world out there.”
Aengus revealed since he first started thinking about leaving RTE, he had the full support of his husband of four years Terry.
He said: “Right from the very beginning when I mooted the possibility he was 100% encouraging as always. He’s just as excited as I am, which is lovely.
“He needs to work now while I’m having a good time.”
