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Daniel: “Mam is giving me the
strength to sing”
11.06.14
SINGER Daniel O'Donnell
has described how his late mother Julia is giving
him the strength to go on stage so soon after her
death.
Speaking for the first time since she died at the
age of 94 less than four weeks ago, the heartbroken
performer said his mother's unflinching love and
support lives on for her family.
Daniel (52) is currently on a three-week tour of the
US and Canada. He had to begin the tour just a week
after his mother was laid to rest.
"I can’t believe I have been able to do this tour so
soon after mam's passing, however I believe that it
was she who gave me the strength to do it," he said.
"She loved coming to see the concerts. I have to say
I have felt a great sense of peace each night on
stage. I know in my heart it’s what she would have
wanted me to do."
In a heartfelt message to fans this morning, the
Kincasslagh singer said concert-goers on his latest
tour have been showing him cards, letters and
knitted gloves that kind-hearted Julia had sent them
over the years. |
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Daniel dancing
with his beloved mother Julia. |
"Looking back over the
last year, I could see my mother failing, but
somehow, it never dawned on me that the end was so
close," he added.
"Even though (she) was 94, somehow I think we all
thought she was going to live forever. We know how
fortunate we have been to have had her for so long,
but at this time, it’s not that easy to be rational.
"She was so much a part of all of our lives and took
a great interest in everything we did, from my
eldest brother John, right down to the youngest
great-grandchild Lauren."
Meanwhile, Daniel, who plans to take a two-year
sabbatical and spend quality time with wife Majella
next year, said the O'Donnell family were
"overwhelmed" by the numbers who attended Julia's
wake and funeral. He thanked everyone for their
kindness to their mother while she lived and their
prayers and messages of sympathy when she died.
He quipped that Julia, in her later years, would
often ask how many priests had concelebrated a local
person’s funeral mass. He said she would have been
proud at the turn-out for her own.
"As I sat in the front pew beside her coffin, I
glanced at the 11 priests that concelebrated and
thought to myself, I hope you can see them mam,
you’ve done well."
Julia O’Donnell’s month's mind mass will be held at
St Mary's, Kincasslagh, on Friday, June 27 at 7pm. |
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