Daniel Francis Noel O'Donnell, MBE (born 12 December 1961)^[2] is an Irish singer, television presenter and philanthropist.^[3] After rising to public attention in 1983, he has since become a household name in Ireland and Britain; he has also had considerable success in Australia.^[4] In 2012, he became the first artist to have a different album in the British charts every year for 25 consecutive years.^[5] This record has been extended and as of 2021, O'Donnell has had an album in the Official Albums Chart each year for the last 33 years.^[6]

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Quick Facts MBE, Background information ...

Daniel O'Donnell MBE
O'Donnell in concert in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Daniel Francis Noel O'Donnell
Also known as	"Wee Daniel"[1]
Born	(1961-12-12) 12 December 1961 (age 62) Kincasslagh, County Donegal, Ireland
Genres	Country, easy listening, folk
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Years active	1980–present
Website	www.danielodonnell.org

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Known for his close relationship with his fanbase, and his charismatic^[7] and engaging stage presence,^[7] O'Donnell's music has been described as a mix of country and Irish folk, and he has sold over ten million records to date.^[8][9] He is widely considered a "cultural icon" in Ireland, and is often parodied in the media.^[10] Affectionately known as "Wee Daniel",^[1][11] O'Donnell is a prominent ambassador for his home county of Donegal.^{[12][13][14][15]}

O'Donnell was born in and brought up in the village of Kincasslagh, in The Rosses district in the west of County Donegal, Ireland. He grew up as the youngest of a Roman Catholic family, with his parents, Julia (née McGonagle born 1919; died 18 May 2014)^[16] and Francis O'Donnell, and siblings John (the eldest), Margaret (Margo), Kathleen and James. He has described his upbringing as mostly happy, with the exception of the death of his father after a heart attack when O'Donnell was six years old.

During his school years, O'Donnell considered pursuing a career in banking. Despite this, a career in music was also always a possibility. As a youngster, O'Donnell performed in the local religious choir. In 1980, he went to Galway to pursue business studies, however, he never settled down and by Christmas he was in his sister Margo's band. Margo had already forged a successful career in Ireland.

O'Donnell was married, aged 40, on 4 November 2002, to 41-year-old divorcée Majella McLennan from Thurles,^[27] whom he met on holiday in Tenerife three years previously. McLennan received an annulment of her previous marriage,^[28] by which she had two children. The couple live in Meenbanad, County Donegal, and spend time at their second home in Tenerife.^[29]

O'Donnell is proficient in Irish and presented a show in that language for the broadcaster TG4.^[30]

O'Donnell rarely speaks about politics but voiced his support for the Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland in 2015.^[31][32] He has also spoken out about in support of redress for homeowners in Ireland whose houses were built using mica.

O'Donnell has been involved in many charitable causes for many years, most notably in Romania. He has championed the Romanian Challenge Appeal, a charity that helps orphaned Romanian children re-establish themselves within society. He was involved in urging Irish families to home these young people in Ireland for a period.^[33]

O'Donnell is arguably better known for his gentle, soft-spoken personality and clean-cut image, than for his music. Over the years he has attracted vast media attention and there have been many cultural references to the performer. O'Donnell is frequently satirised in Irish and British comedy because of a common supposition that his audience consists mainly of older women.^[34] He was parodied as celebrity singer "Eoin McLove" in the Father Ted episode "Night of the Nearly Dead", as well as an episode of BBC sketch-show Chewin' the Fat, as an Irish singer named "Donald O'Daniel". The comedy show Bull Island and the radio sketch segment "Gift Grub" portrayed him in sketches frequently singing about his "mammy".^[35] DJ Chris Moyles has parodied O'Donnell on numerous occasions.^[36]

O'Donnell is known for his close relationship with his fans and has a meet-and-greet session after almost every concert. He used to host a massive tea party for his fans outside his Donegal home every year.^[1] He has expressed a wish to appear in Coronation Street.^[37]

He appeared on Martin and Paul's Surf 'n' Turf.^[38]

• 1988 – RTÉ Guide Favourite Country Artist of the Year
• 1989 – RTÉ Guide Favourite Country Artist of the Year
• 1989 – Donegal Person of the Year
• 1989 – IRMA Entertainer of the Year
• 1990 – RTÉ Guide Favourite Country Artist of the Year
• 1991 – RTÉ Guide Favourite Country Artist of the Year
• 1991 – British Country Music Awards International Artist of the Year
• 1991 – CMRU Most Popular British Vocalist
• 1991 – IRMA Entertainer of the Year
• 1992 – IRMA Entertainer of the Year
• 1992 – RTÉ Guide Favourite Country Artist of the Year
• 1992 – British Country Music Awards International Artist of the Year
• 1992 – CMRU Most Popular British Vocalist
• 1995 – British Country Music Awards International Artist of the Year
• 1997 – British Country Music Awards Ambassador Award for Outstanding Services to Country Music
• 2000 – This Is Your Life Tribute^{[citation needed]}
• 2002 – Awarded an Honorary MBE for services to the music industry and charity
• 2004 – Lifetime Achievement Award from The Irish Post
• 2011 – Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sunday World

• List of baritones in non-classical music
• Music of Ireland
• Country and Irish