“I Just Knew”: Majella O’Donnell Opens Up About the Moment She Realized Daniel Was the One
The Late Late Show Interview Offers an Intimate Glimpse Into a Love Story That Defied Convention
On a recent and deeply personal episode of The Late Late Show, Majella O’Donnell opened her heart and took audiences back to the serendipitous moment her life changed forever — when she met Irish country music legend Daniel O’Donnell. It was September 1999, and the setting couldn’t have been more unassuming: a small bar in Tenerife owned by Majella’s parents. She was working there, navigating life as a single mother of two, and had no idea that the quiet man who walked through the door that night would one day become her husband.
“He just came in — by complete chance,” Majella recalled, her eyes lighting up. “And from the very beginning, we got on really well.” But it was their second meeting that left a mark she could never shake. “It was so strange,” she said with a smile. “I remember thinking to myself — and this sounds mad — ‘I’m going to marry that man.’ I’d barely spoken to him, but something in me just knew.”
Majella joked that it was her “bunny boiler” moment, referencing the iconic scene from Fatal Attraction, but behind the humor was a truth that resonated with anyone who has ever experienced love at first sight. That spark, that sense of destiny, set their story in motion.
Despite the whirlwind of emotion, there were challenges. Majella was a divorced mother with two children, and Daniel was one of Ireland’s most adored public figures, known for his strong Catholic values and quiet, modest life in Donegal. She admitted there was hesitation on both sides — a period of reflection and caution. But love has a way of cutting through doubt.
By April 2001, after many heartfelt conversations and growing closeness, they finally said the words out loud: “I love you.” From there, the bond only deepened. On November 4, 2002, they were married in a small but meaningful ceremony in Daniel’s hometown of Kincasslagh — a moment Majella described as the happiest of her life.
Daniel, too, shared his side of the story during the interview, expressing how becoming a stepfather to Majella’s children has been one of the most profound gifts he’s ever received. “They didn’t have to accept me, but they did. And now, I can’t imagine my life without them or our grandchildren,” he said, his voice filled with quiet emotion.
The couple’s candid reflections revealed not just a love story, but a partnership built on trust, healing, and the kind of devotion that only grows stronger with time. They spoke about intuition — that mysterious, unexplainable force that told them they belonged together — and the beauty of finding love when you’re least expecting it.
Now, over two decades later, Majella and Daniel remain not only partners in life but pillars of strength for each other. They’ve weathered health challenges, grief, and the pressures of fame — but their foundation, built in that little bar in Tenerife, has never wavered.
“Sometimes, you just know,” Majella said quietly at the end of the segment. And in her case, she did.