The two words that describe what wee Daniel is really like with his grandchildren... and why the Donegal crooner and his fabulous wife Majella are moving to Wicklow and preparing for another house revamp!

Published: 22:01, 24 April 2026 | Updated: 22:01, 24 April 2026 Now we’ve always known you can’t take the Donegal out of the national treasure that is Daniel O'Donnell - but, as it turns out, you can take Daniel out of Donegal… at least for a little while. While the beloved crooner may be taking a breather from releasing hit albums and touring, he is far from putting his feet up.  In fact, this year is shaping up to be one of the busiest yet - just in a different way - for Ireland’s musical legend and his equally fabulous wife, Majella O'Donnell. I meet the couple at Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre, where they are being celebrated as bona fide style icons alongside the likes of Audrey Hepburn, The Beatles and Naomi Campbell.  Seeing them in all their finery - Majella in a fitted green dress and heels, Daniel in a waistcoat, blazer and tailored trousers - it’s safe to say these national treasures more than hold their own among the international greats who have received the hall-of-fame treatment in Kildare. Having taken up a stylish residence in the Thoroughbred County, their exhibition of clothing and personal items now a permanent fixture, the pair have also turned their attention to another scenic spot. For while Donegal will always be home, the couple have another new base - they've purchased a stunning new residence in County Wicklow. Of course, fans will remember when Daniel and Majella famously enlisted the help of celebrity architect Dermot Bannon to reconfigure their beloved Kincasslagh home back in 2018.  The debates over budgets and bathrooms became the stuff of television gold - but clearly, any memory of the stress of home renovation has faded - because they’re doing it all again. ‘It’s Wicklow but it’s our Dublin base really as it’s only about 20 minutes away,’ says Majella happily of their new home.  ‘We’re doing some work; I’d say by the end of the summer we’ll start moving stuff in.’ ‘Yes it’s handy to have a base closer to Dublin. We’re excited about it,’ adds Daniel. ‘We’ll be coming and going from there.’ Some of the items on display in Newbridge Silverware's Museum of Style Icons, including Daniel and Majella's wedding outfits. What exactly they have planned for the property remains under wraps — but if history is anything to go by, there may well be more than one ensuite involved.  Who could forget Daniel’s now-famous insistence on an ensuite for every bedroom during their Donegal renovation, much to Majella - and Dermot’s - amusement? One thing that’s certain is that there will be plenty of room for family.  Because alongside their property plans, the couple are also celebrating some very special personal news: they are preparing to welcome their fifth grandchild later this year. ‘We have Olivia, who is ten, Archie, who's eight, and Luke, who's four, and they are Siobhan's three children, and they live in Banbridge in County Down. ‘Then my son Michael is married to Sarah, and they live in Melbourne, Australia. They have Jack, who's just one, and they're expecting another,’ beams Majella. And when it comes to grandparenting, it seems Daniel is a self-confessed soft touch. ‘Everything that they want they get. If it's a pack of the Smarties 15 minutes before dinner, that's what he will give them. ‘And I'm the one going, “You have to eat your dinner, you're not having those”,’ she says, as Daniel smiles mischievously. ‘For Daniel, becoming a grandfather has been far, far more impactful on him than it was on me because I had children, but these are Daniel's children, and they absolutely adore him,’ she adds. ‘They are just a joy. There's no doubt about it. Their tune is louder than ours, and whatever their tune is, that's the one we sing and play.’ Daniel entertaining his legions of fans in Newbridge this week.  It’s a fitting analogy from a man who has spent over four decades mastering his craft. With 49 Top 75 charting albums - including 20 Top 10 records - Daniel knows exactly how to strike the right note.  His longevity in the music industry is nothing short of remarkable. And judging by the hundreds of fans (yes, many of them female) gathered outside the venue hoping for a glimpse of their idol, his appeal shows no sign of fading. Equally striking, however, is the enduring romance between Daniel and Majella.  As they wander through the exhibition - hand in hand - pausing at meaningful pieces including their wedding outfits, it’s clear their connection remains as strong as ever. At least, that’s what I assume, and I'm so impressed by this public display of affection after all these years - until Majella comically sets the record straight. ‘Look, I haven’t worn heels for five years so I told him to hang on and not let me fall,’ she laughs. Still, she is clearly enjoying the glamour of the occasion. ‘This isn’t what we’d be getting in every day,’ she says. ‘I haven’t done anything like this for ages actually so it’s great to be able to put on a nice dress for the day. ‘But he makes me laugh, boy does he make me laugh,’ she adds, squeezing his hand and there it is - the unmistakable affection between them. That warmth feels particularly poignant given what Majella has endured in recent times. Earlier this year, she spoke with remarkable honesty about becoming a voluntary inpatient at a psychiatric hospital following a difficult period of depression in 2024.  Now, she says, she feels a 'duty' to use her voice to help others.  The couple are proud to support Gemma’s Legacy of Hope, a Donegal-based charity providing immediate counselling to those in need, and Newbridge Silverware marked the couple’s exhibition with a donation to the organisation — a gesture that clearly means a great deal. ‘I just wanted to demystify it and say, look, I’m a highly functioning person, but yes, I ended up in a psychiatric hospital for two months. So that’s okay. You may end up in a situation like that, but there is life after. ‘And it’s very hard when you're in a dark place. It's very hard to go and look for help. All you want to do is sit in a corner and just be left alone,' she says. ‘You don’t want to be social or go out, and then if you have to battle try and get somebody to even talk to you… you’re just too depleted.’ Daniel and Majella are enjoying spending time with their grandchildren.  Daniel listens carefully, nodding in agreement before adding his own perspective. ‘You're at  as great a risk of death with mental health issues as you are with a heart attack,’ he says. ‘If I had a heart attack here now, I would be in the hospital in minutes and treated. But someone who is seriously unwell with a mental health issue might have to wait weeks or months - that’s not right. ‘So the importance of a charity like Gemma's legacy of hope; they have an instant response so tomorrow is the longest you wait for the appointment.  'That’s what's needed, not just in our area, but nationally, worldwide, that's the way mental health needs to be dealt with.’ Back in the exhibition space, the mood lifts again as the couple reminisce over the many items on display. Among the most unique is a remarkable ‘big red book’ - the original This Is Your Life volume presented to Daniel by television presenter Michael Aspel in 2000. ‘I presumed Engelbert Humperdinck was the likely choice,’ Daniel recalls with a smile, referring to the prolific British ballader.  ‘So I decided I would stand back and I would get a good look at him to see how he reacted… it was definitely a surprise.’ Another deeply personal item is a Fair Isle Aran sweater knitted by Daniel’s late mother, Julia.  He wore it when recording his first song, My Donegal Shore, so it's a piece that holds immense sentimental value.  There’s also plenty of sparkle in there, I note - Daniel’s glittering stage jackets could be confused with Michael Jackson's outfits - the late King Of Pop's custom-made white-jeweled glove is also on display. ‘Ah it’s good fun,’ he laughs. 'I love bringing a bit of rock n roll and craic to the audience. On the stage, you get away with it,' he says, but stage outfits aside, Daniel insists he’s much the same man off stage than he is as Daniel the showman. ‘Maybe less of the sparkly jacket,' he says, and it’s an observation that rings true.  There is an easy confidence about him, but also a humility that is heartfelt and endearing.  And of course - there's Majella, who is just as popular as her other half. The pair exude warmth and this exhibition feels like a love letter not just to a career, but to a life shared. From their wedding outfits to treasured memorabilia, every piece tells a story. Speaking of their wedding, the couple - who will celebrate 25 years of marriage this November - are as playful as ever when reminiscing. ‘I would have had 50 people at the wedding,’ says Majella. ‘It was Daniel who wanted the other 500.’ ‘Sure you’d done it before,’ Daniel quips, eyes twinkling. So what’s the secret to their lasting happiness? ‘We have separate lives as well, that’s what works for us,’ says Majella thoughtfully.  ‘Some couples want to do everything together but we have things we do as a couple and then separate pastimes. ‘I like to be outside. I like doing the garden. I like to paint, arty things, and he’ll play bridge and golf. ‘And then my pal might ask me over to Spain for a week and then you said it was a great idea,’ she adds, turning to Daniel. ‘He’ll say, “go off and enjoy yourself”. We love each other but we are independent as well. We are two people with two lives, not two people that have one life.’ It’s a philosophy that seems to be serving them well as summer beckons.  Alongside getting their new Wicklow home ready, Daniel will be filming Opry le Daniel ar Thuras for TG4, and he's confirmed for Gertrude Byrne's All-Star Irish Mediterranean Cruise in Norway this September, while the couple will also be supporting cancer charity events close to their hearts. And there’s plenty of adventure on the horizon too. ‘We are going to Croatia for three weeks in a camper van, just the two of us,’ says Daniel, clearly relishing the thought. They also plan to return to Tenerife - the island where their love story first began and where they have another home. ‘We’ll be doing a fair bit of babysitting too,’ he adds in the same breath, which only confirms what we already knew - that grandparent duties - alongside Majella - bring him the biggest joy of all. ‘We have the opportunities and we have the time to enjoy our lives now,’ he says. ‘Life is too short not to,’ Majella replies. - Daniel & Majella O'Donnell: Music, Style and Memories is on permanent display at the Museum of Style Icons at Newbridge Silverware. The exhibition is open seven days a week, admission is free, and visitors of all ages are welcome. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.