HEARTFELT SURPRISE: Daniel O’Donnell Secretly Renews Vows With Majella After 20 Years, While Family Prepares for a Joyful Wedding in Italy
It has been a season of reflection and celebration for beloved Irish country music star Daniel O’Donnell. The singer, who just turned 62, recently revealed how he stunned his wife Majella with a surprise renewal of their marriage vows on their 20th anniversary, all while the family now looks forward to the excitement of Majella’s son Michael’s wedding in Italy later this summer.
Speaking with RSVP Country, Daniel shared how the vow renewal unfolded. “We had a lovely time. It was quite a ceremony with Fr. Martin, a couple of friends, Siobhán and her husband Gavin, Michael and Sarah, and the grandchildren. It was just us, a lovely small gathering around the table for dinner,” he explained. What made the evening especially touching was the fact that Majella had no idea it was coming. She only discovered the surprise on the very day of their anniversary.
The celebration marked two decades of marriage for the pair, who had also renewed their vows once before on their 10th anniversary. This time, the setting was intimate and personal, taking place at their home in Donegal, surrounded by the people closest to them — including their grandchildren, Olivia, Archie, and Luca. “We read out some nice pieces,” Daniel added warmly. “It was simple, but very special.”
While the renewal was filled with joy, Daniel acknowledged that the year had not been without sorrow. Majella’s mother passed away at the age of 86, and the family has been slowly coming to terms with the loss. “She had dementia, and she didn’t have a long illness,” Daniel said. “But that doesn’t take away from their sense of loss. It’s always hard to accept.”
Despite grief, brighter days lie ahead. The family is now turning its attention to Michael’s upcoming wedding in Italy this July. The excitement is building, though Daniel admitted with a smile that he doesn’t know yet whether he will sing at the reception. “I don’t know yet, but you never know what might happen,” he teased. “We will have to see. We’re not that advanced with the plans just yet.”
Daniel also spoke about his strong bond with his grandchildren, who have become a daily source of happiness. “They’re great. We chat every day, and they’re always very busy with everything they do. They bring a lot of joy to us,” he said. Each child has a unique personality: Olivia, now eight, is gentle and thoughtful; Archie, nearly six, is energetic and strong-willed; and little Luca, at just two, is beginning to find his voice. Daniel smiled as he recalled how Luca greets him on video calls: “It’s lovely to see him waving and saying ‘Hello Gaga’ when we’re on the phone.”
Music is already finding its way into the next generation. Daniel recounted a charming moment with Olivia, who recently began learning the violin. “I said to her, ‘You’re playing the fiddle now?’ and she said, ‘No Gaga, it’s a violin.’ It’s lovely to see her getting into music.” He praised Siobhán and Gavin for the wonderful way they nurture the children, noting how supportive they are of each child’s talents and growth.
While Majella herself has shared glimpses of her life through appearances such as RTÉ’s Keys To My Life, Daniel has always been more reserved about stepping into the spotlight outside of his performances. “I haven’t traveled like Majella has,” he admitted. “I was in Donegal, then Dublin, and then Donegal again. I never emigrated, and I don’t have a load of places to visit.”
Still, for Daniel, home, family, and music remain at the heart of everything. From quiet moments of remembrance to joyful anticipation of a wedding in Italy, and from the tender bond with grandchildren to the deep commitment he renewed with Majella, the singer continues to show that life’s truest treasures are not found in grand stages, but in the everyday love of family.