He's the king of Irish country music, but even Daniel O'Donnell is weary not to 'overstay' his welcome on the highly competitive music scene.
But after breaking his own world record by becoming the first recording artist to chart at least one new album annually in the UK Artist Albums Chart for 34 consecutive years just last year, whilst celebrating his 60th birthday, the country crooner has no plans on giving up the ghost whilst he's still on a roll.
“I do enjoy it and I think as long as other people enjoy it, and as long as I feel I am able to do it, I will,” the Donegal singer told the Irish Daily Mirror.
READ MORE: Daniel O'Donnell confirms return for first live concerts in over two years
However, looking back at his legendary recording career spanning over 40 years, with adoring fans still lining up to get to see him live on stages from his home of Donegal to down under in Australia, he says he hopes he knows when to hang up his mic if or when the time comes to retire.
“I think the important thing is not to outstay your welcome,” he quipped.
“You know, there will be a time for whatever reason the time is right not to be out there. And I really do want to recognise that, and I will.”
Like performers worldwide, Daniel was forced off stage for the best part of the past two years, but 2021 still proved a special year for Daniel as he celebrated his milestone birthday, with a brand-new album 'Daniel O'Donnell 60' featuring 13 tracks of new recordings.
He celebrated entering the new decade of his life and career in style with a special RTE Late Late Show dedicated to him in December.
Not one to fret about getting older, the Tipperary Girl hitmaker said he instead found himself feeling even more grateful for everything that has happened to him in his life so far.
“I think things worked out better than I ever could have hoped for, even if I planned it,” he gushed.
“I doubt I would have ever planned what I got to do, my vision wouldn’t have been as great as the reality I was about to experience so I was very very fortunate.
He went on: “You know you are aware that you are 60 and thinking about all you have been allowed to do but I don’t think ‘god I am running out of time’.
“I suppose I have lived longer I imagine than I will live, because that’s just because people don’t live until 120 generally, but I don’t feel that I am running out of time.”
Looking up to his late mother Julia, who passed away in 2014, he added:
“There’s lots to do and I think, god my mother lived until 95, and I think if I'm here another 35 years it will be super.”
And with two years of giggin to catch up on, he says he’s raring to go again ahead of his long awaited dates in Killareny’s INEC this summer.
“Everyone is trying to get themselves back on the road again. These shows in Killarney have been postponed twice. We never thought we would be two years trying to get a show done. But hopefully now, it’ll work out. It will work out well, and we are looking forward to getting out with people again.”
Speaking from his stepdaughter Siobhan's home in Banbridge, County Down, after spending the afternoon with his grandchildren there, the sense of contentment and joy beams through the phone, as the proud family man gushes over conversations he has had with his grandson Archie before he stepped away for the interview.
Just four-years-old, the little one discovered a new fact during his day at school, much to Daniel's surprise and amusement.
"He came in from school today and said ‘Granda, everybody knows you,’" Daniel told.
"And I said ‘how do you know that’ and he says ‘I just know’," Daniel added laughing.
"I suppose they are aware[of his fame] but I don’t know how aware. And they don’t give a hoot who or what you are or what you do, it’s just the relationship we have with one another and it is lovely. It brings so much joy to us."
“Ah I mean when we hadn’t seen them, and when they first got to come back up to Donegal it was heaven. For them and for us. Just to see them and give them a cuddle after so many months of lockdown and nobody getting to see anybody.”
And after spending more time at home in his beloved country village of Kincasslagh than he has in over forty years due to the pandemic, the singer said his main focus now is to strike a balance between his time on and off the stage.
“Ah listen, I haven’t been in Donegal, especially in the first lockdown, I hadn’t been at home for that length of time in 40 years. Since I was at school. I really since 1980, I hadn’t been there for that length of time. Like all in one go. I would only be home for days, or weeks at the most and away for a month or two.
“So it was lovely from our point of view. And we were living in the country and we could go out for a walk, so it wasn’t as difficult for us as I’m sure it was for many people.
“And we had one another,” he said, referring to his wife Majella.
“We weren’t alone. We were there together.”
On the importance of family time and getting to be present with his beloved grandchildren, he went on: “I love the shows, I love being on the stage, and I love the interaction with the audience.
“But I also love being up here in Banbridge with the grandchildren and if I’m Donegal going out and playing golf, so I like all that too.
“I enjoy the time off just as much as I enjoy the time on.
“My whole focus going forward is to have the balance of time off and time on.”
Daniel’s Killarney gigs from 25th- 28th August will mark his first live concerts in Ireland since 2020.
From there, he will head off on a busy tour around the globe, with dates in Derry, that will also be televised for an American TV show, shows in Canada, the UK, before finishing up for the year again with a trip to perform for his devoted US fans in November.
Asked if the travelling ever feels gruelling, he insists: “You get used to it. That’s the way my life has been.
“You get on the plane and whatever distance it is, that’s what it is. We go to Australia every so often, and you don’t think about it, that’s the way it is.”
As for the weight of his celebrity status all these years, the ever relaxed singer, who is known for his dedication to connecting with his fans before and after his concerts, repeated: “You just get used to it.
“I don’t think about it, because I am not restricted by it. And I enjoy people too. Chatting to people is no big drain on me.”
Tickets for Daniel Live at the INEC are on sale now from Ticketmaster.ie
