Ryan Tubridy reckons Claire Byrne "did the right thing" by declining the Late Late Show host job.
Despite being the bookies' favourite since Ryan announced his departure in March, she confirmed on Thursday that she won't become the long-running chat show's first female presenter.
Instead, she said that she's focusing on her young family and RTÉ Radio One show. Claire wrote on Instagram: "I have a young family, a busy home life and a full-time radio job that I love, and right now, that is enough for me.
"While I'd never rule out other TV projects, the Late Late Show should be presented by someone who can give it the time and dedication that it deserves."
Responding on his RTÉ Radio One show on Friday morning, Ryan Tubridy said: "Well done to Claire Byrne, I think Claire made a really really smart decision.
"I think she had to think long and hard about it, maybe she didn't, she could have known it all along. As somebody I admire as a broadcaster and somebody I'm happy to meet around the place, she's made a good decision.
"She made a classy statement on it and said the right things on where she's coming from. She's got a young family, a great career in radio, more stuff coming on TV and I do think she did the right thing.
"Strange for me to say that as the outgoing presenter of The Late Late Show," he added
Ryan also told his listeners that he considered hosting The Late Late Show as "the best job in showbiz and the most difficult job in showbiz.
"That's why a lot of people are going 'I'm not sure if I want that in my life'. You'll be criticised a lot, you'll be photographed constantly when you're out and you'll be filmed when you don't want to be filmed.
"Do you want that in your life? I'm not sure. I always say I knew what I was getting into, that's fine I'm not criticising it.
"There are great benefits to it," he admitted. "You work with wonderful people, you meet the most fascinating guests, the audience is lovely, people on the street are very very nice, but you have no privacy and you are on the moment you leave the front door.
"Whoever the next person is will need to be aware of that, it's not just two hours on a Friday night for nearly 40 weeks in a row, it's a different story," he added, before reflecting on previous hosts Gay Byrne and Pat Kenny
"In Gay's time it would have been very different, in Pat's time probably very different again," he said. "It's the Hunger Games with microphones. You do have to make sacrifices, with family, your relationships, things fall down, things get up again and it's remarkable what it will do for you and to you.
"Did Claire do the right thing? Definitely and I wish her well in whatever she does next. I don't know who is going to be next. I don't know. I know nothing, I have no decision making in this. I'm not a consultant, they don't discuss it with me, it's not my thing at all.
"I hope they pick the right person. Good luck to them on that decision because it's not easy."
