Daniel O'Donnell's mother Julia is a reluctant television guest.
Before Donegal singer Daniel O'Donnell begins his first RTÉ television series, he gets some practise under the studio lights as a guest on the 'Bibi' chat show. Joining him on the sofa is his mother, Julia O’Donnell.
Now in her 70s, Julia O'Donnell often travels with her son on his tours through England, Ireland and Scotland. She was particularly keen to accompany him to a recent singing engagement in Lerwick in the Shetland Islands.
Daniel O'Donnell explains that although his father Francis was from Burtonport in County Donegal, his parents met on Shetland, where they were migrant workers. They were both employed gutting and preparing fish for sale.
Julia O’Donnell was born on Owey Island off the coast of Donegal. Daniel O’Donnell would go to the island during his summer holidays and remembers it was full of music and dances.
For Julia O’Donnell growing up on Owey Island was lovely,
It was hard but we were happy.
The biggest hardship for the islanders was the lack of a road. They carried heavy items on their backs while barefoot,
All the help ever I got was the donkey and the wheelbarrow.
Julia O’Donnell thinks Daniel has it easy in comparison,
In his Volvo.
The O'Donnell family were brought up in Kincasslagh on the Donegal mainland. When Daniel O’Donnell was six years old his father died suddenly. Julia O’Donnell then raised her five young children single handedly. Growing up Daniel O’Donnell wanted for nothing, but knows his mother often went without. Being able to bring his mother to shows around the world is his way of thanking her for everything did for him.
This episode of 'Bibi' was broadcast on 19 October 1989. The presenter is Bibi Baskin.
