DANIEL O’DONNELL ON THE JOY OF BEING A GRANDFATHER — “IT’S PURE LOVE, THAT’S WHAT IT IS”
For decades, Daniel O’Donnell has brought comfort and happiness to millions through his music — but these days, the beloved Irish singer says one of his greatest joys comes not from the stage, but from time spent with his grandchildren. The Donegal star, known for his warmth and humility, has opened up about the deep happiness that grandfatherhood has brought into his life.
With his gentle smile and familiar kindness, Daniel speaks about family with the same sincerity he brings to his songs. “Being a grandfather is just pure love,” he shared in a recent interview. “It’s a different kind of love — you get all the joy without the worry. When they run into your arms, everything else just fades away.”
Daniel and his wife Majella O’Donnell are proud grandparents to two young children through Majella’s daughter from a previous marriage. The family often spends time together at their home in Donegal, where laughter, playtime, and music fill the air. “It’s wonderful watching them grow and discover the world,” Daniel said. “They bring such light into our home. Every visit feels like a blessing.”
He fondly recalls how his eldest grandchild, Olivia, first began calling him “Gaga” — a name that has now stuck in the family. “Nobody told her to call me that,” Daniel laughed. “She just came out with it one day, and it stayed. The funny thing is, my own grandmother was called Gaga too — so it feels like it’s come full circle.”
Despite his busy touring schedule, Daniel always makes time for family. Whether it’s reading stories, playing music, or taking the little ones out for a walk, he says those quiet moments mean more to him now than ever before. “You realize how precious time is,” he reflected. “When they’re small, every smile and every giggle feels like a memory you want to hold on to forever.”
Majella has often shared how naturally Daniel took to his role as a grandparent. “He’s so good with them,” she once said. “Changing nappies, making bottles, playing on the floor — he’s hands-on with everything. He has such patience and warmth.”
For Daniel, it’s a role that has given him new perspective and purpose. “When you’ve spent your life on the road, singing and meeting people, you sometimes forget to slow down,” he said. “But when a grandchild grabs your hand or asks you to sing a song, you stop and think — this is what really matters.”
And of course, music has found its way into those moments, too. Daniel often hums or sings softly to his grandchildren, passing down the same love of melody that shaped his own childhood. “They love music,” he smiled. “Maybe one day they’ll sing too — but even if they don’t, I just hope they always carry the joy of it in their hearts.”
As he looks ahead to the next chapter of his life and career, Daniel O’Donnell says being a grandfather has given him something fame and success never could — a sense of peace and gratitude. “It’s the little things now,” he said gently. “The laughter in the house, the hugs, the love — that’s everything. Being a grandfather is the greatest gift I’ve ever been given.”