Daniel O’Donnell and Nathan Carter Reflect on Life-Changing Family Histories in New Podcast ‘My Country Life’
A brand-new podcast launching this weekend is set to offer a deeply personal glimpse into the lives of Ireland’s biggest country music stars — beginning with Daniel O’Donnell and Nathan Carter, who both share stories about how fate and family decisions shaped not only their careers but their very existence.
‘My Country Life’, presented by veteran showbiz writer Eddie Rowley and produced by the Sunday World, promises a series of intimate interviews with Ireland’s most beloved country artists. The podcast officially debuts this Saturday and will be available on major platforms and on sundayworld.com. Alongside the podcast, a special 32-page glossy magazine titled My Country Life, featuring exclusive photos and interview excerpts, will be included in the Sunday World newspaper.
Family Choices That Changed History
In the premiere episode, Daniel O’Donnell recounts his family’s roots on Owey Island, just off the coast of Donegal, and reflects on a pivotal moment in his family’s past that could have changed everything.
His maternal grandfather, James McGonagle, was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, in 1876. However, as an infant, James was brought back to Ireland where he was raised. He later married Margaret Sharkey and settled on Owey Island. Daniel reveals that Margaret once tried to convince her husband to return to America, but James insisted they remain in Ireland.
“My mother used to say to me that her father, my grandfather, wanted Granny to emigrate to America and she never would,” Daniel says on the podcast. “Isn’t it funny how the things that people do in the past have a huge effect on the future… because if she had emigrated with him, we would not be here.”
Nathan Carter’s Story of an Interrupted Journey
Likewise, Nathan Carter reflects on his own family’s near-emigration. His great-grandparents, Jimmy and Winnie O’Neill, had planned to move to America, boarding a ship from Ireland to Liverpool as part of the journey. But once in Liverpool, they were robbed of all their money and possessions — forcing them to stay in England.
Nathan notes that, had they continued to America, he would never have been born. The singer has even written a song about their story titled “Winnie O’Neill”.
His tales don’t stop there. In a surprising twist, Nathan also discusses his paternal grandmother Amana, who came from a wealthy family in Yemen. She defied her family’s wishes by marrying his grandfather, John Carter, a struggling young builder in England at the time.
More Stars to Come
Future episodes of My Country Life will feature well-known names like Derek Ryan, Mike Denver, Cliona Hagan, Michael English, Jimmy Buckley, Patrick Feeney, and Robert Mizzell — all offering a behind-the-scenes look at their lives beyond the spotlight.
Derek Ryan speaks candidly about the emotional moment he left home as a teenager to join the boyband D-Side, a memory that deeply affected his mother. “At the time I didn’t understand why she was so upset… now I see it was her saying goodbye to her youngest.”
Mike Denver, on the other hand, recalls working in brutal winter conditions on a construction site with his father when a phone call from manager Willie Carty gave him a shot at music. “We chatted for 30 seconds and I said, ‘Yeah!’” he laughs.
With heartfelt stories, humorous recollections, and honest reflections, My Country Life looks set to become essential listening for fans of Irish country music and beyond — a celebration of the people, places, and decisions that have shaped the voices we know and love today.