In a powerful moment of family reconciliation, Irish country music legend Margo O’Donnell has revealed that the COVID-19 lockdown helped her rediscover a deep love for her younger brother, Daniel O’Donnell, after the two endured more than five years of estrangement following the death of their beloved mother, Julia, in 2014.
The Donegal-born siblings—two of the most iconic voices in Irish music—had quietly drifted apart in the wake of their mother’s passing, with grief, misunderstanding, and time creating a rift between them. But in a heartfelt interview with RSVP Magazine, Margo shared how the stillness of lockdown gave her the clarity and courage to reflect—and reconnect.
“I had time to recap on everything during lockdown when nobody was going anywhere,” Margo said. “I did a lot of reading, research and reflecting. I discovered that I didn’t realise how much I loved Daniel.”
Now in a much better place, Margo, who turned 70 in February, and Daniel, who will celebrate his 60th birthday this December, came together for their first-ever joint photoshoot—a milestone that signified more than just shared fame, but forgiveness, family, and healing.
“It’s like I gave myself permission to feel and to acknowledge those feelings,” Margo added. “Before I matured in the lockdown, I wasn’t able to look at my brother and say, ‘I love you with all my heart.’”
“I was so looking forward to being here today. I felt blessed driving around Donegal chatting away with Daniel.”
Daniel, equally moved, expressed his pride not only in Margo’s musical accomplishments, but especially in her journey to sobriety after battling addiction for years.
“Irrespective of Margaret’s music… being able to overcome all of the negativity in her life may have helped people even more,” he said. “With her opening up about her problems with drink and getting help, she could help others do the same.”
“Margaret has had great achievements in the music business, but her real success to me is what she came through.”
Daniel also reflected on the extraordinary fact that both siblings managed to rise from their humble beginnings in rural Donegal to become household names.
“I often think about both of us, coming from where we did, and just making it out physically at all was marvellous.”
Margo, now at peace with much of her past, candidly admitted that her deepest regret remains never having children—a dream that never came to fruition.
“My biggest regret is not having children. I would have loved them. Maybe that’s why I sometimes wish I were younger, so I could have a child on my own without being married now.”
“In my time, you couldn’t do that,” she explained. “The first serious relationship I had didn’t work out. He disappeared, and I didn’t see him again until he was married. We’ve both made peace with it, and his wife knows about it too.”
Despite past heartache, Margo says she’s finally laid her personal demons to rest. Through faith, reflection, and reconnection with family, she stands today not only as a musical pioneer—but as a woman who chose peace over pride.