Daniel O’Donnell to serenade new Rose of Tralee

Singer Daniel O’Donnell will serenade the newly crowned Rose of Tralee at the finale on Tuesday night.

The Co Donegal singer, who is semi-retired so he can spend more time with his wife after her recent fight against cancer, will take to the stage of the Dome to sing the song which sparked the long-running pageant.

Daniel also told fans on his website that while he loves babysitting his newborn granddaughter, he leaves the nappy-changing to wife Majella. Majella’s daughter Siobhan gave birth to a baby girl, Olivia, on August 2.

“She is just a delight. For those of you who have grandchildren you’ll probably understand the joy she has brought to our lives,” he said. He said Olivia’s mother and father, Siobhan and Gavin, are “as proud as any parents can be”.

He said his sabbatical from touring, which runs for another 12 months, had afforded him and Majella the time to enjoy the early days of grandparenthood.

“Majella and I are so lucky that we are able to spend so much time with them at this early stage and we are already glad to babysit any chance we get. Although I am leaving the nappy changes up to nana,” he said.

He also revealed that a charity concert he staged last May in memory of his late mother Julia raised more than €30,000 for Dungloe Community Hospital, where the 94-year old was cared for in her final days.

“So many of you braved the elements and sat it out through the bad weather and I must say the atmosphere was tremendous, so thank you for that.”