37 years in showbiz... and all people ask is for me to fix the boiler
SINGER Daniel O’Donnell has had a triumphant career spanning nearly four decades, four continents and has amassed a global army of fans. But for some, it seems, the country crooner is now best known for his star-turn in a Bord Gáis Energy advert.
‘It’s amazing, no matter where I go now, somebody, somewhere will come up to me and say “would you ever be able to have a look at me gas boiler?”, it’s really quite incredible,’ he told the Irish Mail on Sunday.
In the advert, Daniel arrives to meet superfan Mary – whose house is a veritable shrine to her homegrown hero -– only to be shunted out the door after he offers to fix her broken boiler; which should have only been fixed by a registered professional, the ad’s key message.
Such is its success the ad has just been given its very own follow-up, which sees Daniel knocking on an affronted
‘We live in the country – our lockdown wasn’t difficult’
Mary’s window pleading to be allowed back in. It is this endearing ability to poke fun at his own expense, coupled with talent and a ‘wee bit of luck’ that has seen him at the top of the country charts for the past 35 years.
After three decades, Daniel is back with another album that is a walk down memory lane. The eponymously titled album was a pre-Covid production and the songs will resonate with all for evoking life and times before the virus hit.
Daniel and Majella are spending lockdown in the rolling hills of Donegal in the home given a stunning makeover by celebrity architect Dermot Bannon.
‘Ah sure look, we were very, very lucky, where we’re living. We live in the country and we have a lovely wee garden so there’s plenty of scope to walk about. Our lockdown wasn’t hugely difficult, other than the fact so many things were cancelled for me from a professional point of view, but, please God, we’ll get to do all of that again.
‘I think that the people who lost
family members and loved ones that is the big tragedy.
‘For the rest of us, please God, if we’re well and spared after all this is over, we’ll be able to gather our
selves and carry on.’
The singer says spending time in his Bannon-designed house brought home just how fortunate he has been in life. ‘The new house is just lovely. These last few months we’ve just gotten the benefit of it and to really enjoy it.
‘It’s like those houses you see in photographs and books, the only difference is that it’s ours. I never tire of it when I walk down the stairs and see the expanse of it.’
He admits that while he did pose for a picture in the kitchen, he’s not much of a cook.
‘I don’t do very much cooking, that must have been a very quick snap if they got me in the kitchen. Now I wouldn’t starve but I wouldn’t like to be cooking for anyone else.’
Like musicians the world over Daniel’s many live shows were cancelled indefinitely because of coronavirus. But Daniel is staging a very special virtual show tonight.
He will perform his first ever live-streamed concert from Millennium Forum Theatre in Derry.
Tickets to watch the concert online will be available to purchase for €20 in advance. See www.danielodonnell.org for information.