Tipperary actress announces her departure from long-running Irish TV show

Tipperary Town's Rachel Pilkington is to leave Fair City after nine years. 

The actor announced her departure on social media yesterday. 

In her Tweet, Ms Pilkington said:

"After 9 yrs, I've decided to leave McCoys & my role as Jane on Fair City. Thank you to all my beautiful, hardworking fellow cast members & the wonderful crew in RTÉ who treated me with the greatest respect, love & kindness - always making me feel like a valued member of the team."

She said she would be moving on to film which she described as her "first love". 

Rachel Pilkington plays Jane Black in the long-running RTE soap.

Previously she starred in Glenroe and The Clinic. She was nominated for an IFTA award for the latter.  

She is also an outspoken environmentalist and animal lover, speaking about her vegan diet and calling for a ban on hare coursing.