FORMER RTE Fair City star Clelia Murphy has opened up on her exit from the show.
The actress played Niamh Cassidy in the hit RTE show for over two decades.
After acting on the long-running soap for 22 years, Clelia made the decision to leave in 2017.
Since her departure from Carrigstown, the mum-of-one has kept busy with a career on both screen and stage.
Speaking about her decision to leave, Clelia told The Sunday Times: “I was there for 22 years and I was stuck in one spot.
“At a certain point, you have to go, ‘That’s a bit safe now. I’m not learning’. And it’s in that space, where you’re feeling the fear a little bit, that you learn more.”
The Dublin native welcomed her daughter, Clarabelle, into the world when she was 22.
And although she didn’t anticipate staying on the show for as long as she did, she’s grateful for the years she spent there as it provided a steady job while raising Clarabelle.
The TV star explained: “Twenty-two years, but I didn’t plan it like that. In Fair City you could be written out any point, you didn’t know what contract [you’d have].
“I was only 18 when I started in Fair City and I had my daughter, Clarabelle, when I was 22, so I kind of made the decision to go down that route. It allowed me to rear Clarabelle and put a roof over our heads, and I was always very grateful for that.
“But around 2014 or 2015, when I started doing a lot more stuff outside, [it felt like] I needed to start learning. I really had to get out of my own way and push myself.”
Clelia also reflected on her time competing on Dancing With The Stars in 2019, where she made it all the way to the quarter-finals.
She joked: “Stop, my nerves were gone on that show. Have I kept up the dancing? Well, the boss is sitting here beside me, so yes – of course I have.”
The actress and her husband Neil Casserly tied the knot in a lavish ceremony back in 2023.
Clelia had stirred rumours the previous year that she got engaged and later confirmed it through a sweet post on social media.
After her wedding, the mum-of-one shared a series of heartwarming snaps to her Instagram.
The first picture she shared was of herself and her husband walking down the road while their guests were in the background.
AISLE SAY!
In the following picture, Clelia and Neil were walking down the steps after they had said ‘I do’.
The final picture was of the happy couple waving at an Irish Rugby bus as it passed by.
Clelia looked incredible in a silk dress that had a low v-neckline and she had an intricate headpiece and long train.
She also was holding a bouquet of white flowers in her hands.
The actress captioned the pictures saying: “So he asked. I said, ‘Yes thank you very much’ and then we danced the night away with some of the best people on the planet.
“Thank you @kevin_kheffache and Annie for capturing our day.
“More thank YOU’s to follow… @neilcasley day was made when a certain @irfu Bus passed by!!!!”