Daniel O’Donnell Opens Up About Falling for Majella: “Why Would I Miss Out on This?”
In a rare and heartfelt interview, Irish country music legend Daniel O’Donnell has shared the tender beginnings of his love story with wife Majella, a romance that blossomed on the sunlit shores of Tenerife — and endured the trials of life to become one of the most beloved unions in Irish public life.The couple, who recently renewed their vows after 20 wonderful years of marriage, first crossed paths at Majella’s parents’ bar on the Spanish island. What started as a chance encounter quickly revealed itself to be something far deeper.
“We got on very well, from the very beginning,” Daniel recalled in a conversation with RSVP Magazine. “Obviously we struck up a relationship immediately.”
But their story, like any true love, was not without its complications. In the early days, Daniel admitted he had “reservations” about the relationship, especially considering Majella’s past marriage. The couple even briefly separated, uncertain if their connection could withstand the weight of their individual histories.
It was during this separation that Daniel experienced a moment of clarity that would shape the rest of his life.
“I think I realised that I enjoyed her more than even I knew,” he said. “I remember thinking, ‘Why would I miss out on this?’”
That question — simple, honest, and deeply human — became the foundation of a love that would span more than two decades and touch fans across the globe.Majella, too, has been open about her past, including the emotional struggles she faced during her first marriage. In a poignant interview on RTÉ’s Keys to My Life, she spoke about the toll postnatal depression took on her and how the unraveling of her first marriage left lasting wounds.“It’s just when I think of the kids,” she said tearfully. “I see them and just want to pick them up and cuddle and hold them because I probably wasn’t great with them when they were small.”
She described the pain of being abandoned by her then-husband during a vulnerable time — and the desperate plea she made to save a failing marriage.“I can remember being on my knees and just holding on to him saying, ‘Please don’t go.’ It was pathetic. That’s pathetic.”Listening to her story, Daniel said it filled him with deep empathy — and a recognition of the path their lives had taken.
“There’s a sadness to it,” he admitted. “Because I suppose what would have been better for everybody is if Majella’s marriage had worked… but I wouldn’t have got the chance then.”
It’s a reflection grounded in love, maturity, and a profound respect for the life Majella lived before him — and the life they’ve built together since.“Majella wanted her marriage to work. It’s what she wanted for herself and for the children. That would be the best thing. But you live the life that you’re given.”
Now, as they prepare to celebrate 23 years of marriage this November, Daniel and Majella stand as a testament to what love can become when it’s tested — and chosen — again and again.
In a world of fast stories and fleeting feelings, theirs remains a rare kind of romance: rooted in respect, tempered by time, and shining ever brighter with each passing year.