The final episode is this Monday night

The RTÉ One late-night factual show will conclude quite abruptly next week.

After more than seven quite successful years, RTÉ One's 'Claire Byrne Live' is to call it a day.

The final episode of the current affairs TV series will be broadcast this coming Monday, 30 May 2022, wrapping up another season on the national broadcaster.

Launching in 2015, the programme has been home to powerful interviews and contributions from thousands of audience members over the years. Memorable moments from the show include Colin Farrell appearing on the opening episode to voice his support of the same-sex marriage referendum; when the presenter caught Covid and continued the show from her garden shed; and there was also that time Dustin the Turkey made an apearance.

The show also hosted a number of debates over the years, including one revolving around the general election in 2020.

The presenter said in a statement that 'Claire Byrne Live' will finish out this May so she can concentrate on her radio show, 'Today with Claire Byrne', which broadcasts on RTÉ Radio 1 every weekday morning until midday.

She said: "When we started 'Claire Byrne Live' in 2015, we wanted it to be a forum for people in Ireland to shape the news, respond to unfolding events and most importantly, to have their say. We came through two general elections, two hugely significant referendums and one global pandemic in the time that we have been on air. 

"I have been hugely proud to be part of this show for those years and I have been humbled to work alongside three talented editors of 'Claire Byrne Live' - Aoife Stokes, Jane Murphy and Hugh Ormond, not to mention the small, hard-working team that made sure we got to air every week, despite the massive challenges posed by the pandemic in the last two years.

"I have made the decision now to focus on my radio show and I am very much looking forward, in time, to working on other television projects for RTÉ. I want to thank everyone who made 'Claire Byrne Live' such an enjoyable show to be part of and in particular, the audience at home, who allowed me to spend Monday nights in their company over the last seven and a half years."

The presenter will continue to work with RTÉ on future television programmes.