Daniel O’Donnell Hints at Retirement as He Seeks to “Slow Down” After Four Decades of Success
Irish country music icon Daniel O’Donnell has admitted he is beginning to think seriously about easing back from the relentless pace of life on the road, hinting that retirement — or at least semi-retirement — may not be far away.
The Donegal-born singer, who turns 57 next month and will mark 38 years in music in January, is currently performing five shows a week across the United States. While he still relishes being on stage, Daniel confessed that he doesn’t imagine himself touring well into his eighties like the late Big Tom McBride, one of his greatest inspirations.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Daniel said:
“I keep saying I’m going to slow down, and I have a little. I suppose in the future I’ll look at taking more time off. I think everyone has a time when they should finish, and I hope when that time comes for me I’ll realise it.”
Asked directly if he could see himself performing for as long as Big Tom did, he admitted:
“For some it works well and they go on for a long time, but I don’t know that I would like to go on indefinitely.”
From Heartthrob to Grandad Figure
Daniel, who has built an international fanbase stretching from Ireland to America and Australia, also acknowledged the changing dynamics of being a performer as he grows older.
He laughed off suggestions of still being seen as a heartthrob, joking that the image of women flinging underwear at him on stage — once a playful hallmark of performers such as Tom Jones — was never part of his reality.
“I never had a lot of that now, I have to say,” he explained. “There’ll always be good people who are having good fun, but I never really had much of that Tom Jones attention. I think maybe now, as I’m getting older, I’m getting into the grandad look rather than the heartthrob.”
Still Driven by Passion, Not Work
Despite the grueling schedule, Daniel insisted he doesn’t view his touring commitments as a chore.
“When you enjoy what you do, it’s never really like working. I don’t ever feel like it’s a job — it’s something I enjoy and always have,” he said.
The singer also pointed out that his tours are carefully structured to allow for downtime. While in the US, he typically performs Monday through Wednesday, takes Thursdays off, and then returns to the stage for Friday and Saturday shows before resting again on Sundays.
“It seems like one thing after another, but there are days off,” he said. “I don’t find it too bad at all.”
Looking Ahead
After completing his American run, Daniel will travel to Canada before returning to Ireland for a short series of concerts in December. Fans can look forward to shows at the INEC Killarney (December 14), TF Theatre Castlebar (December 15), Waterfront Hall Belfast (December 18), and Millennium Forum Derry (December 19).
While he has no immediate plans to stop performing, Daniel emphasized that the thought of stepping away is no longer far-fetched. For an artist who has sold millions of records and played to countless fans worldwide, the idea of slowing down is as much about balance as it is about legacy.
“Everyone has their time,” he reflected. “I hope when mine comes, I’ll recognise it and step back gracefully. But until then, I’ll keep enjoying the music and the people who make it all worthwhile.”