RTE was forced to abandon its plans for camera-friendly weather presenters but why it dropped Joan Blackburn is now likely to remain shrouded in fog, writes Róisín Ingle
The issue of whether we fancied meteorologist Gerry Fleming and the way he might wink at us or the new, younger weather presenters was a hot topic that dominated the headlines a couple of years ago.
And it was public pressure that forced RTÉ's former managing director of television Joe Mulholland to do a U-turn in his decision to replace the popular meteorologists with a shower of more camerafriendly presenters.
Despite a thaw in relations between RTÉ and Met Éireann, former TV weather presenter Joan Blackburn, who yesterday was told her case for unfair dismissal against RTÉ could not be pursued, has emerged as the main casualty of the row.
Given the negative outcome for Ms Blackburn, it was appropriate that rain clouds gathered over the Employment Appeals Tribunal this week as she began to argue her case.
A member of the tribunal staff seemed to miss the irony as she turned on the air-conditioning explaining that "the weather hits us in the afternoon".
Gerry Fleming, who had arrived straight from the night shift at Met Éireann to be an independent witness, looked half asleep in the back row.
Evelyn Cusack, who still presents the weather reports on RTÉ 1, had also come along to show her support.
Beside Ms Blackburn was her husband, Pat Clarke, also a meteorologist in Met Éireann.
After two days of weather talk - including fascinating insights into the best colours to wear while standing in front of isobar charts - it's still unclear why Joan Blackburn was not kept on after she auditioned again for the role of weather presenter last year.
We weren't able to find out because the tribunal ruled that she didn't actually have a contract of employment with RTÉ despite 13 years of monthly tax-deducted payslips and wardrobe allowances to her name.
She was told subsequently that there was a problem with her diction. But her voice was as clear as a bell throughout the case, and RTÉ must agree because they still continue to employ her for radio weather reports.
At the tribunal, we learned that clear diction was one of a list of criteria furnished by RTÉ bosses to weather wannabes at the time. But then again when advertising for new weather presenters in 1998 RTÉ also stipulated applicants should have degrees "ideally specialising in meteorology", qualifications which none of the newly recruited presenters possessed.
In capital letters at the bottom of the lengthy list of criteria given to Joan Blackburn last year was typed: "Engage the viewer and prevent any zapping to other channels."
Which does nothing at all to explain the likes of Telly Bingo or the rumoured return of The Lyrics Board to our screens.
Ms Blackburn has not indicated whether she will appeal the decision, saying only, "We fought a good fight."
Evelyn Cusack tried hard not to cry as she spoke about her friend and colleague outside the tribunal yesterday.
"I'm very disappointed and I think the Irish public have lost a very good weather broadcaster," she said. "She will be very much missed by her thousands of fans and she has had many letters of support. On a personal note, Joan and myself started on the service together. I was looking forward to working with her again."
Asked how she felt about RTÉ after the judgment, a distraught Ms Cusack understandably said she wouldn't comment. After all, the remaining meteorologists on RTÉ's TV panel are in an even more precarious position. And lightning can strike twice.