Daniel O’Donnell Hits Back at Claims His Nursing Home Visits Were a “Publicity Stunt” During the Pandemic
Irish music legend Daniel O’Donnell has firmly rejected suggestions that his visits to local nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic were motivated by publicity rather than compassion. The Donegal singer, widely admired for his generosity and community spirit, spoke out during an appearance on Virgin Media’s Six O’Clock Show, clarifying why he chose to perform for elderly residents and how the idea came about.
During the height of the pandemic, when care homes across Ireland were under strict lockdown and elderly residents were isolated from family and friends, Daniel made the decision to bring music directly to them — singing outside facilities with a small speaker, maintaining distance while offering comfort through song. What was intended as a simple act of kindness quickly drew nationwide praise, but it also attracted criticism from a small number of online commenters who accused him of seeking publicity.
Daniel addressed those accusations head-on:
“I was sitting here one day,” he explained on the program, “and I said to Majella, ‘If I had a wee speaker, I could go up to the hospital and sing for the residents.’”
Instead of acting impulsively, Daniel followed the rules carefully.
“I called the guards and asked them and said what I’d like to do,” he continued. “So they sent me an email that would allow me to go singing. The nursing home thing was just something I thought of.”
He emphasized that his visits had nothing to do with public image or media attention.
“I saw some people saying it must be a publicity stunt,” he said. “But really, it’s nothing to do with publicity. It’s just easy for me to do it, and I went to a few more homes last week too. It’s great to be able to do it and bring a little bit of joy.”
Residents, staff, and families across Donegal praised Daniel’s actions at the time, noting that his outdoor performances lifted spirits during one of the darkest moments of the pandemic. His appearance at the Six O’Clock Show marks the first time he has publicly responded to critics.
Meanwhile, Daniel’s wife Majella O’Donnell also addressed online backlash recently after comments she made on The Late Late Show were misinterpreted. During the episode, Majella joked that flying from Dublin to Donegal felt “like taking a private jet” because of how few passengers were onboard.
The comment, intended humorously, sparked criticism from some social media users who suggested the couple had traveled by private plane during the pandemic — a claim Majella firmly denied.
Replying to a fan who understood the joke, Majella said:
“Ah last! Someone with common sense! Of course we didn’t take a private plane!!! It was a joke because there were only three of us on the plane — it felt like a private plane. This flight operates every day to Dublin and has done for years.”
She also responded to now-deleted tweets, writing:
“No, we don’t actually! Just trying to do the right thing, even though you get nasty comments like this.”
Despite the criticism, both Daniel and Majella remain widely admired for their charity work, grounded personalities, and long-standing commitment to their community. Daniel’s nursing home visits in particular were seen by many as a bright moment of humanity during the pandemic — a reminder of the power of small acts of kindness.
As Daniel himself put it, “It’s great to be able to do it and bring a little bit of joy.”