:Majella O'Donnell
{{short description|Irish singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| birth_name = Majella Roche
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|04|14|df=yes}}
| nationality = Irish
| occupation = Singer, businesswoman, charity campaigner
| spouse = {{Plainlist|
- {{Marriage|Raymond McLennan|reason=annulled}}
- {{Marriage|Daniel O'Donnell|2002}}
}}
}}
Majella O'Donnell (born Majella Roche, 14 April 1960){{Cite web |title=Majella O'Donnell celebrates birthday |url=https://www.inishowennews.com/016MajellaHB076.htm |website=InishowenNews.com}} is an Irish singer, businesswoman and charity campaigner from Thurles, County Tipperary.{{Cite web |last=Wade |first=Jennifer |date=27 July 2013 |title=Daniel O'Donnell asks for prayers as wife Majella diagnosed with cancer |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/daniel-odonnell-asks-for-prayers-as-wife-majella-diagnosed-with-cancer-1011067-Jul2013/ |website=TheJournal.ie}}{{Cite web |last=Ramsbottom |first=Pauric |date=27 December 2023 |title=2023 Remembered: Growing friendship sees Daniel and Majella O'Donnell open Rathdowney community gardens |url=https://www.laoistoday.ie/2023/12/27/2023-remembered-growing-friendship-sees-daniel-and-majella-odonnell-open-rathdowney-community-gardens/}} 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.{{Cite web |last=McLaughlin |first=Rachel |date=25 January 2023 |title=Majella O'Donnell named as a Global Hero of Hope for cancer patients |url=https://www.donegalwoman.ie/2023/01/25/majella-odonnell-named-as-global-hero-of-hope-for-cancer-patients/ |website=DonegalWoman.ie}}
Early life
O'Donnell is the daughter of Tom and Marion Roche,{{Cite web |date=19 September 2023 |title=Daniel O'Donnell's wife Majella heartbroken after death of mother Marion |url=https://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-news/daniel-odonnells-wife-majella-heartbroken-after-death-of-mother-marion/a522930406.html |website=Independent.ie}} and was raised in Thurles, County Tipperary.{{Cite web |last=O’Callaghan |first=Helen |date=12 September 2022 |title=Keys to My Life review: Memories flood back for Majella O'Donnell in Thurles |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-40958795.html |website=IrishExaminer.com}} Her parents owned a bar in Tenerife.
Her marriage to her first husband, Raymond McLennan, was annulled.{{Cite web |last=McGowan |first=Sharon |date=14 October 2014 |title=Majella O'Donnell: "My ex-husband cheated on me the night before our wedding" |url=http://www.irishmirror.ie/female/majella-odonnell-my-ex-husband-cheated-4438889 |website=Irish Mirror}}{{Cite web |title=Unofficial Daniel O'Donnell website |url=http://danielodonnell.org.uk/default.asp?id=1&ACT=5&content=28&mnu=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814071126/http://danielodonnell.org.uk/default.asp?id=1&ACT=5&content=28&mnu=1 |archive-date=14 August 2011 |access-date=25 August 2011 |publisher=DanielODonnell.org.uk}} They had two children together. She went by her married name, Majella McLennan, until her second marriage.{{Cite web |last=Fahy |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Fahy |date=4 November 2002 |title=Daniel O'Donnell Marries Majella McLennan |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2017/1104/916676-daniel-odonnell-ties-the-knot/ |publisher=RTÉ News |via=RTÉ Archives}}
She met singer Daniel O'Donnell in September 1999 in Tenerife.{{Cite web |date=10 February 2024 |title='I knew I was going to marry Daniel even though we'd only met each other twice,' says Majella O'Donnell |url=https://www.sundayworld.com/showbiz/irish-showbiz/i-knew-i-was-going-to-marry-daniel-even-though-wed-only-met-each-other-twice-says-majella-odonnell/40184759.html |website=SundayWorld.com}} They married on 4 November 2002.{{Cite web |title=Playing My Song; Majella Makes Her Album Move |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/PLAYING+MY+SONG%3b+Majella+makes+her+album+move.-a0145740963 |access-date=1 July 2018 |website=Sunday Mirror}}
Career
File:Daniel O'Donnell's home in Meenbannad area - geograph.org.uk - 1162102.jpg]]
In 2015, O'Donnell and her husband produced Daniel and Majella's B&B Road Trip, a travel series for RTÉ.{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Ailbhe |date=10 May 2018 |title=Daniel O'Donnell releases raunchy teaser for new series of B&B Road Trip |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/tv/daniel-odonnell-bb-roadtrip-rte-12513818 |website=Irish Mirror}} She has appeared as a guest on The Late Late Show, on RTÉ One, Loose Women on ITV1,{{Cite web |title=WATCH: Majella O'Donnell Mortifies hubby Daniel O'Donnell on Loose Women |url=https://goss.ie/showbiz/watch-majella-odonnell-mortifies-hubby-daniel-odonnell-loose-women-82402 |website=Goss.ie}} and Angela Scanlon's Ask Me Anything on RTÉ 2.{{Cite news |date=14 April 2023 |title=Majella O'Donnell on tattoos: 'I have one on my bum!' |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2023/0414/1377050-majella-odonnell-on-tattoos-i-have-one-on-my-bum/ |work=RTÉ.ie}} 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".{{Cite news |date=2 June 2007 |title=Arts & Entertainment |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/922699711 |url-access=subscription |work=Sentinel Tribune |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}} According to her husband, O'Donnell has been approached to compete in Dancing with the Stars.{{Cite web |date=16 November 2023 |title=Daniel O'Donnell Responds To Rumours He And Majella Will Be On Dancing With The Stars |url=https://extra.ie/2023/11/16/entertainment/celebrity/daniel-odonnell-dwts |website=Extra.ie}}
Active on Twitter, O'Donnell spoke against the actions of Eamonn Holmes following the resignation of{{Broken anchor|date=2024-09-06|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Phillip Schofield#Affair and resignation from ITV|reason= The anchor (Affair and resignation from ITV) has been deleted.}} Phillip Schofield from ITV,{{Cite web |last=Mallon |first=Sandra |date=6 June 2023 |title=Majella O'Donnell tells Eamonn Holmes to 'shut up' in Twitter rant |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/majella-odonnell-blasts-eamonn-holmes-30167823 |website=Irish Mirror}} and the publicity around the unfounded investigation into family friend Cliff Richard.{{Cite web |last=Roantree |first=Megan |date=9 August 2018 |title=Cliff Richard praises Daniel and Majella for their friendship during tough times |url=https://vipmagazine.ie/cliff-richard-praises-daniel-and-majella-for-their-friendship-during-tough-times/ |website=Vipmagazine.ie}}
Cancer diagnosis
In 2013 O'Donnell announced that she was battling breast cancer. 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.{{Cite news |last=McGreevy |first=Ronan |date=16 September 2013 |title=Majella O'Donnell appeal raises €400,000 for cancer group |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/majella-o-donnell-appeal-raises-400-000-for-cancer-group-1.1529443 |url-access=registration |newspaper=The Irish Times}}{{Cite web |last=Kate |first=Mary |date=4 December 2016 |title=Exclusive: A chat with Majella O'Donnell - Donegal Woman |url=https://www.donegalwoman.ie/2016/12/04/chat-with-majella/,%20https://www.donegalwoman.ie/2016/12/04/chat-with-majella/}} She underwent a double mastectomy.
Personal life
O'Donnell and her husband live in Meenbannad, County Donegal, and spend time at their second home in Tenerife.{{Cite news |date=4 November 2002 |title=Daniel O'Donnell ties the knot |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2399587.stm |work=BBC News}}
She has three grandchildren.{{Cite news |date=7 August 2015 |title=First family photo of Majella and Daniel O'Donnell with grandchild Olivia |url=http://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-news/first-family-photo-of-majella-and-daniel-odonnell-with-grandchild-olivia-31434923.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312123916/http://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-news/first-family-photo-of-majella-and-daniel-odonnell-with-grandchild-olivia-31434923.html |archive-date=12 March 2016 |access-date=29 June 2018 |work=Irish Independent}}
O'Donnell has spoken of her issues with depression, and of art as a way of coping when overwhelmed.{{Cite web |last=McLoughlin |first=Laura |date=11 August 2023 |title=Majella O'Donnell apologises for offence caused by her art |url=https://donegalnews.com/majella-odonnell-apologises-for-offence-caused-by-her-art/ |website=Donegal News}}
Discography
- At Last 2006{{Cite web |title=Majella O'Donnell – At Last (2006, CD) - Discogs |website=Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2265686-Majella-ODonnell-At-Last}}
- ...By Request 2010{{Cite web |title=Majella O'Donnell - ...By Request | Releases | Discogs |website=Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/3104298-Majella-ODonnell-By-Request}}
Bibliography
- {{Cite book |last=O'Donnell |first=Majella |author-link=Majella O'Donnell |title=It's All in the Head, 2015 |publisher=Simon & Schuster UK |year=2015 |isbn=978-1471138959 |ref=none}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter user}}
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Category:Irish women activists
Category:21st-century Irish women singers
Category:21st-century Irish businesswomen