RTE’s Dermot Bannon Calls Daniel O’Donnell “Frugal Until He Dies” After Famous Room to Improve Clash
RTE architect Dermot Bannon has reignited conversation about his high-profile feud with country music star Daniel O’Donnell, describing the Donegal singer as “frugal until the day he dies” despite his reported €31 million fortune.
The pair’s infamous clash on Room to Improve became the most watched episode in the show’s history, pulling in an average audience of more than 722,000 viewers. The dispute centered on spiraling costs, with Daniel and his wife Majella initially agreeing to a budget of €200,000 before the figure nearly doubled to €395,000.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mirror, Bannon reflected on the experience: “Daniel is one of those people, I don’t think he cares, he could make €2 million, or €20 million or €20,000 — he does what he does and he will be frugal until the day he dies. And that’s just the way he is.”
The Dublin-born architect added that O’Donnell’s attitude towards money is rooted in his upbringing: “He just doesn’t like waste. Whether you earn €20,000 or €2 million, if you’ve been brought up with a frugal background, you’re going to be frugal. That’s Daniel.”
Despite the tension that played out on screen, Bannon described the O’Donnells as “the most ordinary people you could meet.” He praised their down-to-earth lifestyle, pointing out that Daniel even does his own household chores: “For someone who reportedly makes two million a year, you’d think he’d send out the clothes. But I’ve seen him do all his ironing, and Majella’s ironing too. He even ironed my shirt.”
Bannon noted that Donegal culture also plays a role in Daniel’s humility: “It’s not a showy county. It’s not the done thing to wear your wealth.”
The episode’s record-breaking success has left Bannon with mixed feelings about fame. He admitted he enjoys making the programme but struggles with the aftermath once it airs: “It’s kind of like I wish it never went out on air. I’m just not comfortable when there’s a big fuss and everybody’s talking about it. But it’s like a drug — I still go back to it. I’d love to make it for the rest of my life if they would let me.”
Despite their onscreen disagreements, both men have remained respectful of one another since. For many viewers, the fiery exchanges between the perfectionist architect and the famously cautious Donegal singer provided some of the most compelling — and relatable — television of the year, cementing the episode as a classic in Irish broadcasting history.