Majella O'Donnell

Majella O'Donnell
Born
Majella Roche

(1960-04-14) 14 April 1960 (age 64)
NationalityIrish
Occupation(s)Singer, businesswoman, charity campaigner
Spouses
Raymond McLennan
​
(annulled)​
​
(m. 2002)​

Majella O'Donnell (born Majella Roche, 14 April 1960)[1] is an Irish singer, businesswoman and charity campaigner from Thurles, County Tipperary.[2][3] She came to public attention upon her engagement to singer Daniel O'Donnell. A survivor of cancer, she has raised money for the Irish Cancer Society.[4]

Early life

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O'Donnell is the daughter of Tom and Marion Roche,[5] and was raised in Thurles, County Tipperary.[6] Her parents owned a bar in Tenerife.[5][6]

Her marriage to her first husband, Raymond McLennan, was annulled.[7][8] They had two children together.[7] She went by her married name, Majella McLennan, until her second marriage.[9]

She met singer Daniel O'Donnell in September 1999 in Tenerife.[10] They married on 4 November 2002.[11]

Career

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O'Donnell's home in Meenbanad, County Donegal

In 2015, O'Donnell and her husband produced Daniel and Majella's B&B Road Trip, a travel series for RTÉ.[12] She has appeared as a guest on The Late Late Show, on RTÉ One, Loose Women on ITV1,[13] and Angela Scanlon's Ask Me Anything on RTÉ 2.[14] O'Donnell has release two albums, At Last in 2006 and ...By Request in 2010. She performed a duet with Daniel on his PBS special "Can You Feel The Love".[15] According to her husband, O'Donnell has been approached to compete in Dancing with the Stars.[16]

Active on Twitter, O'Donnell spoke against the actions of Eamonn Holmes following the resignation of[broken anchor] Phillip Schofield from ITV,[17] and the publicity around the unfounded investigation into family friend Cliff Richard.[18]

Cancer diagnosis

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In 2013 O'Donnell announced that she was battling breast cancer.[2][1] In the week she commenced chemotherapy, she had her head shaved live on The Late Late Show as a fundraiser for the Irish Cancer Society, raising over €350,000.[19][20] She underwent a double mastectomy.[16]

Personal life

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O'Donnell and her husband live in Meenbannad, County Donegal, and spend time at their second home in Tenerife.[21]

She has three grandchildren.[22]

O'Donnell has spoken of her issues with depression, and of art as a way of coping when overwhelmed.[20][23]

Discography

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Bibliography

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  • O'Donnell, Majella (2015). It's All in the Head , 2015. Simon & Schuster UK. ISBN 978-1471138959.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Majella O'Donnell celebrates birthday". InishowenNews.com.
  2. ^ a b Wade, Jennifer (27 July 2013). "Daniel O'Donnell asks for prayers as wife Majella diagnosed with cancer". TheJournal.ie.
  3. ^ Ramsbottom, Pauric (27 December 2023). "2023 Remembered: Growing friendship sees Daniel and Majella O'Donnell open Rathdowney community gardens".
  4. ^ McLaughlin, Rachel (25 January 2023). "Majella O'Donnell named as a Global Hero of Hope for cancer patients". DonegalWoman.ie.
  5. ^ a b "Daniel O'Donnell's wife Majella heartbroken after death of mother Marion". Independent.ie. 19 September 2023.
  6. ^ a b O’Callaghan, Helen (12 September 2022). "Keys to My Life review: Memories flood back for Majella O'Donnell in Thurles". IrishExaminer.com.
  7. ^ a b McGowan, Sharon (14 October 2014). "Majella O'Donnell: "My ex-husband cheated on me the night before our wedding"". Irish Mirror.
  8. ^ "Unofficial Daniel O'Donnell website". DanielODonnell.org.uk. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  9. ^ Fahy, Jim (4 November 2002). "Daniel O'Donnell Marries Majella McLennan". RTÉ News – via RTÉ Archives.
  10. ^ "'I knew I was going to marry Daniel even though we'd only met each other twice,' says Majella O'Donnell". SundayWorld.com. 10 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Playing My Song; Majella Makes Her Album Move". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  12. ^ Daly, Ailbhe (10 May 2018). "Daniel O'Donnell releases raunchy teaser for new series of B&B Road Trip". Irish Mirror.
  13. ^ "WATCH: Majella O'Donnell Mortifies hubby Daniel O'Donnell on Loose Women". Goss.ie.
  14. ^ "Majella O'Donnell on tattoos: 'I have one on my bum!'". RTÉ.ie. 14 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Arts & Entertainment". Sentinel Tribune. 2 June 2007. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b "Daniel O'Donnell Responds To Rumours He And Majella Will Be On Dancing With The Stars". Extra.ie. 16 November 2023.
  17. ^ Mallon, Sandra (6 June 2023). "Majella O'Donnell tells Eamonn Holmes to 'shut up' in Twitter rant". Irish Mirror.
  18. ^ Roantree, Megan (9 August 2018). "Cliff Richard praises Daniel and Majella for their friendship during tough times". Vipmagazine.ie.
  19. ^ McGreevy, Ronan (16 September 2013). "Majella O'Donnell appeal raises €400,000 for cancer group". The Irish Times.
  20. ^ a b Kate, Mary (4 December 2016). "Exclusive: A chat with Majella O'Donnell - Donegal Woman".
  21. ^ "Daniel O'Donnell ties the knot". BBC News. 4 November 2002.
  22. ^ "First family photo of Majella and Daniel O'Donnell with grandchild Olivia". Irish Independent. 7 August 2015. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  23. ^ McLoughlin, Laura (11 August 2023). "Majella O'Donnell apologises for offence caused by her art". Donegal News.
  24. ^ "Majella O'Donnell – At Last (2006, CD) - Discogs". Discogs.
  25. ^ "Majella O'Donnell - ...By Request | Releases | Discogs". Discogs.
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