MAJELLA O’DONNELL RAISES NEARLY €400,000 FOR IRISH CANCER SOCIETY IN INSPIRING CAMPAIGN
In a remarkable show of courage and generosity, Majella O’Donnell, wife of singer Daniel O’Donnell, has raised close to €400,000 for the Irish Cancer Society, turning her own personal struggle into a national moment of solidarity and hope.
The fundraising effort began in 2013 when Majella made the deeply personal decision to shave her head live on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show. At the time, she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer, and her decision to share that vulnerable moment with the public struck a powerful chord. Viewers across Ireland were moved by her bravery and honesty, and donations to the Irish Cancer Society poured in almost immediately.
What was intended as a gesture of awareness quickly became one of the most memorable moments in Irish television history. By the time the campaign closed, nearly €400,000 had been raised — funds that have gone on to support cancer research, patient care, and vital support services for families affected by the disease.
Majella later reflected on the experience, explaining that her decision to appear without her hair was not about spectacle but about sending a message of strength to others facing similar challenges. “If by doing this I can make even one person feel less alone, then it’s worth it,” she said at the time. Her words resonated deeply, and her act remains one of the most high-profile demonstrations of public support for cancer awareness in Ireland.
For the Irish Cancer Society, the impact of Majella’s effort was transformative. The funds raised provided resources for palliative care, support groups, and critical research projects aimed at finding better treatments. Just as importantly, her gesture helped break down stigmas surrounding cancer, encouraging more open conversations about diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
Daniel O’Donnell, long admired for his musical career and philanthropy, expressed his pride in his wife’s actions, noting that Majella’s bravery reflected not only her own strength but also her desire to help others in their most difficult hours. The couple, deeply rooted in their Donegal community, have continued to support charitable causes, but Majella’s fundraising for the Irish Cancer Society stands as a particularly moving chapter in their story.
To this day, many in Ireland still recall watching that Late Late Show broadcast, describing it as both heartbreaking and uplifting. For cancer survivors and their families, Majella’s openness offered a beacon of hope. For the wider public, it was a reminder of the power of compassion and collective action.
More than a decade later, the legacy of that night endures. Majella O’Donnell is remembered not just as a public figure but as a woman who used her platform to make a tangible difference. Her €400,000 fundraising milestone remains one of the largest ever individual contributions raised through a single televised appeal for the Irish Cancer Society.
As Ireland continues its fight against cancer, Majella’s act of bravery serves as a reminder that even in the face of fear and uncertainty, courage and kindness can create ripples of change far beyond what anyone might expect.