The secret of our fine romance?
I’m away on tour a lot, says Daniel As the O’Donnells return home after their Dermot Bannon ref it
‘It cost more than we were expecting’ ‘I don’t think I’d do Dancing With The Stars’
DANIEL O’Donnell reckons that travelling the ‘four country roads’ – and beyond – is a key element to the success of his marriage.
And what’s lucky for the popular singer, is that wife Majella agrees!
She told the Mail on Sunday: ‘We could be apart for a month or two if he’s touring and that’s grand; I get on with my life and then when he’s back we could be together 24/7 and it’s great. He’s romantic every day.’
Daniel was quick to agree that that their time apart is the key to a happy marriage. ‘I go on tour a lot.’ laughed ‘We get on very well together. We enjoy one another, we respect one another.’
While the road always beckons for superstar Daniel, home is always where the heart is – and that home has got a major revamp.
The couple are preparing to move into their house which was extensively renovated under the scrutiny of celebrity architect Dermot Bannon and will be showcased in a special episode of Room To Improve on RTÉ. ‘We’re in next week, Wednesday is the day we film the reveal. Carpets are going down and the furniture is arriving so we will be in next week. Hopefully I’ll have my house back, it’s been five months now,’ said Majella.
Daniel who was on tour for most of the renovations said that he and Bannon had some minor spats over the budget. ‘It’s great what he has done, it’s amazing. It cost a lot more than we were expecting but now when you see it, it’s wonderful.’
Majella added they are both looking forward to finally getting in to her home. ‘For me, it’s the main living area, it’s one big open area, with a new kitchen. There’s a lovely big fire in the middle. We will have a lovely house, a better house. We bought someone else’s house now we have our own home. We’ve created our own home with Dermot.’
The home is not the only celebration, the couple have just become grandparents again as Majella’s daughter had her second child Archie. ‘He’s a wee dote. Olivia is two-and-a-half now and she has her little personality. But to have that soft bundle again that you just want to eat, he’s gorgeous,’ she said.
While the couple are gearing up for Room To Improve, Majella said that following Daniel’s stint on Strictly, doing Dancing With The Stars is unlikely. ‘I don’t think I’d do Dancing With The Stars. I don’t think I have the physical ability. I’ve a bad knee and all the surgery up here. I’d be the old one on it that everybody will think she will go the first week. But at the same time, never say never.’
And of course they will be back with their critically acclaimed B&B Roadtrip. ‘It was very, very well received, we were very surprised. And through the whole range of age groups. I didn’t think we would do another one but we’re delighted to be doing it. We’re just looking for B&B owners.’
Hopefully of the calibre of superfan Anne Sheerin, a star of the first series whose reaction to the couple arriving at her B&B was an internet hit. ‘We’ll never forget Anne, our very first lady, her reaction. But when you go though it in your mind all of the different people, the couple in the hot tub. They were all so lovely.’
Daniel and Majella were speaking to the Mail this week at the launch of the Hidden Hearing Campaign. Majella said: ‘We’re involved in the campaign supporting people to get their ears tested. I wear two hearing aids and it’s made a huge difference to my life.’
She added: ‘People just maybe don’t want to give into it but you wear glasses without thinking. You can blame other things, you can say people are mumbling, or the TV is too low. But I’ve noticed even being in meetings you can exclude yourself as you don’t want to say you don’t know what’s going on. You’ve nothing to lose, it’s a free test.’