DONEGAL LOCALS UNASHAMEDLY PROUD TO CELEBRATE DANIEL O’DONNELL’S MARRIAGE TO DIVORCÉE MAJELLA McLENNAN — “LOVE IS LOVE, AND DANIEL FOUND HIS”
When Daniel O’Donnell married Majella McLennan on November 4, 2002, in a modest but elegant ceremony in the Canary Islands, it wasn’t just a union of two people — it was a story that captured the heart of Donegal and much of Ireland. Though Majella was a divorcée and a mother of two, the people of Daniel’s hometown of Kincasslagh stood firmly behind the beloved singer, proving that kindness and respect mean more than gossip or outdated judgment.
More than twenty years later, locals still speak of the wedding as one of pride rather than controversy. “Daniel has always been one of us,” said one resident. “When he brought Majella into his life, we welcomed her too. She’s warm, gracious, and she makes him happy — that’s all that matters.”
At the time, Daniel’s decision to marry a divorced woman drew minor whispers in conservative circles, especially within Ireland’s older Catholic community. But in Donegal, where Daniel’s generosity, humility, and deep faith are well known, the mood was overwhelmingly supportive. “Nobody here cared about her past,” another neighbor said. “We saw a good woman who brought out the best in him.”
Daniel, already an international star by the early 2000s, handled any outside criticism with his characteristic grace. In interviews, he spoke only of love, respect, and gratitude. “Majella is my partner in every sense,” he said shortly after the wedding. “We’ve both lived full lives, and I’m thankful that God brought us together.”
The couple’s story soon became one of Ireland’s most admired love tales — proof that happiness can come later in life and in unexpected ways. Fans adored their warmth, their natural humor, and their grounded approach to fame. Over the years, they have faced both joy and hardship together — from Majella’s brave public battle with breast cancer in 2013 to Daniel’s emotional tributes to her strength and resilience.
“Majella’s courage showed everyone what kind of woman she is,” said a local shopkeeper in Dungloe. “She faced it with honesty and grace — and Daniel was by her side every moment. That made Donegal even prouder of him.”
Today, the couple are pillars of family life and community spirit, often spotted attending local events or chatting casually with neighbors. They divide their time between Donegal and Tenerife, but their roots remain firmly in Ireland’s northwest coast.
“Daniel never forgot where he came from,” said Father Martin Coll, a priest who has known the family for decades. “He and Majella are an example of love that endures and forgives. Their marriage reminds us that life isn’t about perfection — it’s about faith, kindness, and loyalty.”
Even now, after 23 years of marriage, locals speak of Daniel and Majella’s bond with affection and admiration. “They’ve been through everything together — fame, illness, loss, and joy,” said one family friend. “If that’s not true love, I don’t know what is.”
From the early days of skepticism to decades of unwavering support, Donegal has never been embarrassed by Daniel’s marriage — it has celebrated it. The couple’s enduring partnership stands as a reminder that compassion always wins over criticism.
As one lifelong fan put it simply, “Majella may have come from outside Donegal, but she’s one of us now — and Daniel’s happiness is our happiness too.”