‘DANIEL’S NOT EXACTLY FLAITHIÚLACH’ — DERMOT BANNON REVEALS DONEGAL CROONER IS CAREFUL WITH HIS CASH
Dublin, Ireland — Celebrity architect Dermot Bannon has shared a lighthearted behind-the-scenes story about working with Daniel O’Donnell, describing the Donegal singer as “not exactly flaithiúlach,” the Irish word for extravagant.
Bannon, who famously redesigned Daniel and Majella O’Donnell’s stunning Donegal home on RTÉ’s Room to Improve, revealed that while Daniel was every bit as charming and polite off camera as he appears on stage, he also had a very practical approach when it came to budgeting.
Speaking in an interview, Dermot recalled:
“Daniel is lovely — one of the nicest people you could ever work with. But let’s just say, he’s not splashing the cash left, right, and centre! Every decision had to make sense. He wanted things to be beautiful, but he also wanted them to be worth it.”
The episode, which aired in 2018, quickly became one of the most-watched in the show’s history, drawing nearly 700,000 viewers. Fans loved watching the gentle back-and-forth between the easygoing architect and the meticulous music star, who had clear opinions about how his home should look — and how much should be spent on it.
“Majella was the dream client — she wanted space, light, and comfort,” Dermot joked. “Daniel was more focused on the cost of each tile!”
Despite the teasing, the pair developed a strong friendship. Bannon praised Daniel’s humility, saying, “He’s a man of great faith and decency. There’s no ego, no fuss — just a good heart and a good head for money.”
Fans of both men have since joked that the Room to Improve episode should have been called “Room to Negotiate”, given the gentle tug-of-war between designer and client over prices.
Daniel later laughed off the comments, saying:
“Dermot knows well I wasn’t being tight — I just wanted value! We were delighted with how it all turned out. He did a great job.”
The completed home, located on the Donegal coast, remains a favorite retreat for Daniel and Majella — a bright, modern space filled with natural light, stunning views, and personal touches that reflect their warmth and down-to-earth charm.
As Dermot summed it up with a smile:
“You can say what you want about Daniel O’Donnell — but he knows exactly what he wants, and he’s not paying a penny more for it!”