DANIEL O’DONNELL LOOKING FORWARD TO A SPECIAL SUMMER WITH HIS GRANDCHILDREN — “THE SIMPLE MOMENTS MEAN THE MOST”
Beloved Irish singer Daniel O’Donnell is trading in the spotlight for some sunshine and family time this summer, as he looks forward to a well-deserved break with his grandchildren. After a busy season of touring and recording, the Donegal star says nothing makes him happier than spending quiet, laughter-filled days surrounded by the little ones who’ve brought so much joy into his life.
Speaking in a recent interview, Daniel shared how much he cherishes being a grandfather. “It’s just the best thing,” he said with a smile. “You get all the love and fun without the worry. Every time they come running toward me with their little arms open, it melts my heart.”
Daniel and his wife Majella O’Donnell are proud grandparents to two young children — through Majella’s daughter from a previous marriage — and family life has taken on a whole new meaning for the couple. “When I’m on the road, I miss them terribly,” Daniel admitted. “So when summer comes around and I can spend time with them properly, it’s such a blessing.”
This year, Daniel plans to take a family trip to Tenerife, a favorite destination for the O’Donnells. “It’ll be lovely,” he said. “It’s the kids’ first time there, so I can’t wait to see their faces when we go to the beach and do all those little things — building sandcastles, eating ice cream, and just being together. It’s the simple moments that mean the most.”
Fans were delighted when Daniel revealed that his grandchildren call him ‘Gaga’, a nickname that came about naturally. “Olivia, our eldest, just started calling me that,” he laughed. “Nobody told her to — it just happened! The funny thing is, my own grandmother was called Gaga too, so it feels like a lovely family tradition.”
Despite his decades-long career and worldwide fame, Daniel says being a grandparent has given him a new kind of fulfillment. “Music has given me everything, but family keeps me grounded,” he reflected. “You realize that success isn’t about how many records you’ve sold or how many shows you’ve done — it’s about love, laughter, and making memories with the people who matter most.”
Majella has often praised Daniel’s natural warmth with children, describing him as “a hands-on granddad” who doesn’t shy away from changing nappies, playing on the floor, or reading bedtime stories. Daniel, in turn, says Majella’s nurturing spirit brings everyone together. “She’s wonderful with them,” he said affectionately. “The kids absolutely adore her. We make a great team.”
When asked what kind of memories he hopes to give his grandchildren, Daniel’s answer was simple and sincere: “I just want them to remember me as someone who loved them unconditionally — who sang with them, laughed with them, and was always there. That’s the legacy I want to leave.”
As summer approaches, Daniel O’Donnell is once again reminding his fans that while stages and spotlights come and go, family and love remain life’s greatest treasures. And for this proud grandfather, the best encore of all is a day at the beach, a giggle from a grandchild, and the beautiful harmony of home.