DANIEL O’DONNELL ‘THRILLED’ TO EMBRACE GRANDFATHER ROLE TO OLIVIA AND ARCHIE
For decades, Daniel O’Donnell has been celebrated as one of Ireland’s most beloved entertainers, a man whose music and gentle manner have endeared him to audiences worldwide. But away from the stage lights and concert halls, the Donegal singer is finding joy in a role he never thought he would have the chance to play — that of a grandfather.
At 56, Daniel admitted he is “thrilled” to be a grandfather to Olivia and Archie, the young grandchildren he gained through his marriage to wife Majella. Speaking candidly while promoting the return of Daniel & Majella’s B&B Road Trip, the singer revealed how deeply family life has enriched his world. “Grandad Daniel sounds really cool,” he smiled. “It’s brilliant having such a great family.”
O’Donnell grew up surrounded by a close-knit family in Kincasslagh, and he says that sense of togetherness has always been central to his life. “I was brought up in a great family, so I have always liked the whole family spirit thing,” he explained. When he married Majella in 2002, he not only gained a partner but also became part of an existing family, as she already had two children from her first marriage.
The couple did try to have a child together, Daniel revealed, but it was not to be. Yet instead of dwelling on what might have been, the singer considers himself blessed. “I probably didn’t realise how wonderful a gift that was at the time,” he said. “But Majella’s children have become our children anyway, and I am very happy about that. Now we have grandchildren because of our marriage and I could not be more thrilled or more happy. Perhaps it was for the best, and now we have grandchildren it has all turned out really well.”
Little Olivia, now nearly two, and baby Archie have brought new light into his life. Daniel speaks of them with the warmth and affection of any proud grandparent. “They are great to be with and I consider myself to be very lucky to have them,” he said.
Despite a packed schedule of concerts, recordings, and appearances, O’Donnell insists family life keeps him grounded. He recently told the Glasgow Post: “Sometimes I wonder if I ought to retire but that’s not going to happen. Life is just great at the moment.” For fans, his continued presence on stage is a gift. But for Daniel, the greatest joy seems to come from the simple moments spent at home — holding Archie, laughing with Olivia, and embracing the family he has gained through love.
It is a portrait of a man who, after years of giving his voice to audiences around the world, now finds the sweetest music in the laughter of his grandchildren.