12 December-Daniel O’Donnell

Daniel O’Donnell is a native of Co Donegal, Ireland. He is a singer-songwriter and television presenter who is widely regarded as one of Ireland’s greatest entertainers. He began performing his blend of country and Irish folk music over 30 years ago. Since then he has become a household name across Ireland and Great Britain and has appeared on popular television shows in both countries.

Daniel Francis Noel O’Donnell was born in Kincasslagh, Co Donegal in 1961. Having completed secondary education in Donegal, O’Donnell moved to Galway in September 1980 to study a course in Business at Galway Regional Technical College. The following Christmas he decided to leave college to join his sister Margo’s band. He stayed with her band until 1983, leaving to start his own singing career. His first single ‘My Donegal Shore’ was recorded in 1983. It took a few years before he began to be successful but by 1992 he was performing to sell-out concerts.

“I Just Want to Dance With You” was a chart hit in Great Britain for O’Donnell in 1992 and this led to his first ever appearance on Top of the Pops. During his career he has had twenty UK Top 40 albums and fifteen Top 40 singles. He has sold over 10 million records and has achieved considerable success in North America. He was awarded an Honorary MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2002 for his services to the music industry.

Popularly known as ‘Wee Daniel’, O Donnell’s close relationship with his fans is well known and he is involved in many charitable causes. Daniel O’Donnell and his wife Majella were married in 2002. They live in Meenbanad near Dungloe in County Donegal where the Daniel O’Donnell visitors centre was opened in 2012. O’Donnell participated in the BBC Strictly Come Dancing programme in 2015.

Daniel O’Donnell was born in the year 1961 On This Day.

 

Daniel O’Donnell

Christmas in Branson by Branson Missouri on 2012-07-18 14:51:53

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