29 Facts About Daniel O'Donnell

Daniel O'Donnell is widely considered a "cultural icon" in Ireland, and is often parodied in the media.

Affectionately known as "Wee Daniel", O'Donnell is a prominent ambassador for his home county of Donegal.

Daniel O'Donnell grew up as the youngest of a Roman Catholic family, with his parents, Julia and Francis O'Donnell, and siblings John, Margaret, Kathleen and James.

Daniel O'Donnell 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.

Not getting enough opportunities to perform solos with the band, in 1983 Daniel O'Donnell decided to record his own record.

Under the management of Reilly, Daniel O'Donnell started to sell concerts out in England on a regular basis.

Daniel O'Donnell appeared on popular television shows in both countries and won various awards.

Daniel O'Donnell was given the Irish Entertainer of the Year award in 1989,1992 and 1996.

Daniel O'Donnell forged a close professional relationship with the Irish singer Mary Duff, who regularly tours with O'Donnell.

Daniel O'Donnell had to cancel a series of concerts in Northern Ireland because of death threats from loyalist paramilitaries in 1994.

Daniel O'Donnell has had twenty UK Top 40 albums as well as fifteen Top 40 singles and has sold 10 million records to date.

Daniel O'Donnell garnered considerable success in North America, when he starred in seven concert specials on public television stations in the United States.

Daniel O'Donnell has charted 18 albums in the Top 20 of the US Billboard's World Music Album Chart and has had several entries in the Independent Albums Chart too.

Daniel O'Donnell was afforded an RTE Christmas Day special, Daniel at 50, in 2011 to mark his 50th birthday.

In 2015, Daniel O'Donnell became the first artist to have charted at least one new album in the UK charts for 28 consecutive years, when his latest album The Hank Williams Songbook entered the UK Artist Albums Chart at number 5.

Daniel O'Donnell was eliminated third; in week 4 of the series.

Daniel O'Donnell was married, aged 40, on 4 November 2002, to 41-year-old divorcee Majella McLennan from Thurles, whom he met on holiday in Tenerife three years previously.

Daniel O'Donnell is proficient in Irish and presented a show in that language for the broadcaster TG4.

Daniel O'Donnell rarely speaks about politics but voiced his support for the Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland in 2015.

Daniel O'Donnell has spoken out in support of redress for homeowners in Ireland whose houses were built using mica.

Daniel O'Donnell has been involved in many charitable causes for many years, most notably in Romania.

Daniel O'Donnell has championed the Romanian Challenge Appeal, a charity that helps orphaned Romanian children re-establish themselves within society.

Daniel O'Donnell was involved in urging Irish families to home these young people in Ireland for a period.

Daniel O'Donnell is arguably better known for his gentle, soft-spoken personality and clean-cut image, than for his music.

Daniel O'Donnell is frequently satirised in Irish and British comedy because of a common supposition that his audience consists mainly of older women.

Daniel O'Donnell is known for his close relationship with his fans and has a meet-and-greet session after almost every concert.

Daniel O'Donnell used to host a massive tea party for his fans outside his Donegal home every year.

Daniel O'Donnell has expressed a wish to appear in Coronation Street.

Daniel O'Donnell appeared on Martin and Paul's Surf 'n' Turf.