The Irish music world is in mourning alongside Daniel O’Donnell, who has paid a deeply emotional tribute to his beloved sister Kathleen, following her sudden and unexpected passing at the family home in Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal. Kathleen, who was 67 years old, died on Friday morning from what is believed to have been a massive heart attack, leaving her family and community in shock.
Daniel, visibly heartbroken, described his sister as a second mother, a constant pillar of love and support throughout his life and career.
“If Kathleen was in your corner, you didn’t need an army,” he told the Sunday World. “She had endless energy and would go to the ends of the earth for me.”
In a poignant memory from that morning, Daniel shared that Kathleen had been up early, caring for her grandchildren — giving them a bath, drying their hair, and preparing a shopping list. She was about to leave for SuperValu with her daughter Trish when the tragedy struck.
“The list is still on the table,” Daniel said quietly — a heartbreaking image of a day that began in routine and ended in devastating loss.
Kathleen was far more than Daniel’s sister — she was the heart of the O’Donnell family. After marrying her husband John in 1979, she remained in the family home, caring for their mother until her passing. She played a central role in family life and was Daniel’s trusted confidante, often keeping him updated with local news and always ready to accompany him wherever he needed to go.
Her support of Daniel’s career spanned decades — from driving him to Big Tom’s Recording Studios in Castleblaney in 1983 to record his first songs, to helping run The Viking House Hotel, which Daniel purchased in Kincasslagh. At community festivals, Kathleen was ever-present, pouring tea for fans, organizing surprise guests, and ensuring that everything ran with warmth and heart. Her tireless dedication brought stars like Loretta Lynn, Cliff Richard, and Liz Dawn to their small Donegal village — always in celebration of her brother, and her community.
Daniel reflected on Kathleen’s unwavering presence:
“She never missed anything I did — around home or anywhere else. She was always there. She would be the first to cheer me on, and the first to tell me off if needed!”
In her later years, Kathleen found her greatest joy in being a grandmother, mirroring the love her own mother had shown the next generation. Daniel said her grandchildren were “everything” to her.
Kathleen is survived by her devoted husband John, daughters Trish and Fiona, sons John Francis and Daniel, her siblings Margaret (Margo), John, James, and Daniel, her adored grandchildren, sons- and daughters-in-law, and a wide circle of friends and extended family.
Her funeral Mass will be held at 11am on Monday at St Mary’s Church in Kincasslagh, where family, friends, and fans will gather to say goodbye to a woman whose love, loyalty, and laughter touched so many.
May she rest in peace — a leading lady in her own right, remembered not only for the sister she was, but for the light she brought to every room, every stage, and every heart she touched.