Daniel O’Donnell Recalls Surprise Duet with Susan Boyle Before Her Knock Shrine Pilgrimage
On December 10, 2010, Irish country star Daniel O’Donnell delighted viewers of Dublin’s Late Late Show with an intimate story about one of the year’s most memorable musical surprises — his impromptu duet with global sensation Susan Boyle in Castlebar, Ireland.
The Donegal-born singer, well known for his warmth and humility, spoke with host Ryan Tubridy about the moment that nearly never happened. “It wasn’t something we had planned,” Daniel admitted. “It was really spur of the moment, but when the opportunity came, I thought, why not?”
The duet took place in July 2010, when Susan Boyle was in Ireland ahead of her pilgrimage to the Shrine at Knock, a deeply spiritual visit that drew significant attention at the time. Before making the journey, Boyle appeared at a concert in Castlebar, where Daniel was also present. What began as a casual backstage chat quickly turned into an unforgettable stage performance.
Fans at the show remember the electricity in the room when the two voices blended for the first time. Daniel described the moment as both effortless and magical. “Susan has such an extraordinary voice — powerful, yet full of feeling. To stand beside her and sing was a privilege,” he said.
The audience response that night was nothing short of overwhelming, with many rising to their feet in applause before the final note faded. For Susan Boyle, whose rise to fame after her 2009 Britain’s Got Talent audition had made her an international star almost overnight, the Castlebar performance offered a chance to connect directly with Irish fans in a way that was both humble and heartfelt.
Daniel recalled how much the experience meant to Boyle personally, particularly as it came just before her spiritual visit to Knock Shrine, one of Ireland’s most revered pilgrimage sites. “She was so looking forward to that journey,” Daniel shared. “It wasn’t just about the concert or the singing — it was about faith, about grounding herself, and finding peace amid everything that had happened in her life.”
The Late Late Show audience, many of whom remembered the event, responded warmly to Daniel’s recollections. Tubridy himself noted how rare it is to see two such distinctive voices come together so naturally, and he praised O’Donnell for his generosity in making space for Boyle on stage.
The story also served as a reminder of Daniel O’Donnell’s unique role in Irish music: not just as a performer but as a connector, someone who has consistently used his career to highlight and celebrate the talents of others. His collaboration with Boyle, however brief, highlighted the shared spirit of music as much as it did the individuals involved.
As Daniel wrapped up his appearance, he reflected once more on the joy of the Castlebar performance. “Sometimes the best things in music are the ones you don’t plan,” he said with a smile.
For fans of both Daniel O’Donnell and Susan Boyle, the memory of that duet remains one of 2010’s most touching moments — a meeting of two powerful voices, bound together for one night by song, faith, and the magic of the unexpected.