Granddad Daniel slows down to focus on family
COUNTRY crooner Daniel O’Donnell has revealed his plans to take life easier and enjoy as much time as possible at home doting on his grandchildren.
The singer, who turned 60 last December, says he does not intend to hang up the microphone any time soon, despite selling more than 10 million records over four decades.
But he says he is now more concerned with finding a better ‘balance’ between his professional and personal life.
Daniel tells the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘I have to say I do enjoy taking more time off than I used to. It’s more by choice, but even after Covid I wouldn’t do as much touring.
‘I’m still travelling and have lots of gigs coming and I still do as much as I want to do. It’s great to be able to get the balance.’
Balance now for the singer means dividing his time between entertaining the masses and helping his grandchildren,
Olivia and Archie, with their homework at his Co. Donegal home.
‘I’m just here with Olivia now and we’re just about to start her homework. But between me and her, the two heads are not good sometimes,’ he laughs.
Many people will be familiar with Daniel’s beloved home in Kincasslagh, west Donegal, after he and wife Majella appeared in a memorable episode of RTÉ’s Room to Improve with TV architect Dermot Bannon.
Daniel later admitted he ‘blew a gasket’ when Dermot – famous for going above and beyond clients’ budgets – presented him with the bill for their designer makeover.
But the usually mild-mannered singer says he and wife Majella have really settled into their renovated home and adds: ‘Dermot did a great job. We haven’t changed the house. It was just perfect.’
And Daniel reveals he and Dermot have remained good friends since the much talked-about episode.
‘I did bump into him when we both did the Climb for Charlie Bird. We’re not in touch all the time but every so often, you know, we might bump into him somewhere.
‘He’s a lovely guy… a very nice person. Very talented.’
The country star is well known for his charitable work, and he has a plethora of gigs lined up to benefit some very good causes.
He will take to the stage alongside Eurovision legend Linda Martin in Dublin’s Pro Cathedral to raise funds for the Peter McVerry Trust and Dogs Aid.
Then he is due to perform another concert to raise money for a cancer patient to allow him to travel to the US for treatment.
Daniel says: ‘I’m really looking forward to these concerts. It’s fantastic to sing in somewhere like the Pro Cathedral.
‘Then I have another one for a local young local fella that has a brain tumour… He’s going to America for treatment that’s costing €200,000.
‘I hope that people will enjoy them. I always enjoy the concerts in the churches. They’re a beautiful opportunity to sing. It’s nice also to be able to do these things for charity. There’s only so much [you can do], but it’s nice to be able to give back.’
And while he intends to make the most of his downtime at home with his family, Daniel is also gearing up to hit the high road again with concerts in the UK, Europe and the US on the horizon.
The singer adds: ‘We’re in Killarney at the end of August and then we’re in Derry in the Millennium Forum for two nights. Then we go to Canada. We start on the ninth of
‘We’re just about to start the homework now’
‘It’s nice to be able to do these things for charity’
September and we work our way through Canada. Then we have some dates in the States and we finish in October.’
Last year Daniel marked his milestone birthday with the latest album ‘60’, which debuted at number four in the UK charts. And even though he has had an album in the Official Albums Chart each year for the last 33 years, Daniel says performing still gives him the same buzz it did when he started his career.
‘I am doing this 40 years now. I have been fortunate and I still love doing it as much as I ever did.’