Daniel is King Cong as village honours singer
HIS already-substantial fanbase has been soaring since he waltzed on to Strictly Come Dancing.
But even i f Daniel O’Donnell doesn’t win the hit BBC show, he can now be assured of immortality in a remote Co. Mayo village.
For the Donegal crooner is to be honoured at a special reception in the village of Cong, where a bronze cast of his hands will be mounted on a wall. The ceremony, taking place next summer, will also see the 53year-old bestowed with the tonguein-cheek Freedom of Cong award.
O’Donnell will be the third recipient of the Cong Hands of Fame ac- colade – a tongue-in- cheek nod to Hollywood’s famous walk of fame – after broadcaster Ryan Tubridy and former Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh.
Organisers travelled to the singer’s temporary London base to get an impression of his hands, which will be cast in bronze by a sculptor.
Co-organiser Paddy Rock, who is busy organising next week’s nineday Cong Festival said: ‘Daniel’s doing very well on Strictly Come Dancing and he’s getting huge support. However, he won’t be on that show forever, but at least his hands will always be here in Cong.’