Margo O’Donnell Opens Up About Losing Her Partner Tony to Cancer — “That Knocked Me Back”
It was an emotional and deeply personal reflection when Margo O’Donnell, the beloved country singer from County Donegal, opened her heart about one of the most painful chapters of her life — the loss of her longtime partner Tony Tracy. Known for her warmth, grace, and unmistakable voice, Margo revealed that behind her decades of musical success lies a story of love, heartbreak, and quiet resilience.
Margo and Tony shared nine years together, bound not only by affection but also by music. Tony, who played lead guitar in her band, was more than a partner on stage; he was her companion in life. But in 1986, tragedy struck when Tony passed away after a battle with cancer. “That knocked me back,” Margo admitted, her words carrying the weight of a wound that time has softened but never erased. “Tony and I eventually would have got it together. But it didn’t happen.”
That loss changed her life forever. While Margo continued to perform and bring joy to countless fans across Ireland and beyond, her personal journey took a quieter, more reflective path. “To be honest with you, after that, I just decided I’m going to live,” she said softly. “I did go out with people, but I was always scared. I was never a person that was full of confidence. I lack confidence. Even to this day. I always had anxiety when I was younger. I was always afraid of failure.”
Those candid words reveal a side of Margo many never see — a woman whose courage lies not only in her songs but in her honesty about fear and vulnerability. Despite her fame, she admits she never felt entirely comfortable in the spotlight. Yet, through it all, she found strength in faith, family, and the music that has become her lifelong companion.
Before her singing career began, Margo once dreamed of becoming a nurse, of settling down, marrying, and raising children. “You see, I wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to get married and settle down and have a couple of children,” she said with quiet wistfulness. But fate had other plans. Life led her to the stage instead of the hospital ward, and her songs became her way of caring for people — healing hearts through melody rather than medicine.
In a touching revelation, Margo shared a moment that brought her past rushing back: “It’s strange that you should come today, because my first love phoned me yesterday. I saw the missed call. So, I called him. We love each other. We grew up together. He is married and his wife is beautiful, and he has two great kids. Then, of course, I fooled myself in a couple of other relationships… because nobody else ever came close.”
Her words capture the tenderness of a woman who has loved deeply and lost profoundly, yet never lost her capacity to care.
Beyond her romantic heartbreak, Margo also endured the loss of her mother, Julia, who passed away on May 18, 2014, just shy of her 95th birthday. “People say it’s terrible when somebody dies young, but I feel the longer you have them, the worse it is,” she reflected. “She was always there in the corner. She always guided us.”
Faith remains a cornerstone in Margo’s life. “I say to her, ‘Help me through this day.’ Daniel would be the same. My dad always helped me too. My father was extremely spiritual.” In her home, she keeps a wedding photo of her parents and a cherished birthday letter from her father, written the year before he died. It ends with a line that continues to comfort her:
“My dear Margaret, may God bless you. Mind yourself. Say your prayers and be a good girl.”
Through love and loss, fear and faith, Margo O’Donnell has lived a life marked by honesty, humility, and grace. Her voice may fill concert halls, but her truest music is found in her heart — a heart that has weathered storms, held memories, and still believes in the beauty of living, even after loss.