Drumlinia ‘proud’ to reveal Daniel for Cavan Cathedral concert

“I’m very much looking forward to the Cavan show,” says world renowned singer Daniel O’Donnell of his planned concert at Cavan Town’s Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Felim later this year, kicking off the Drumlinia Music Festival and Industry Week 2024.

The fundraiser for the Cathedral Restoration Fund kickstarts Drumlinia, a now landmark series of events aimed at informing and encouraging emerging musicians and talents.

Only in its second year, the Drumlinia festival is the largest and only of its kind in the country.

Last year’s inaugural event was spread across three days. It saw the likes of 2FM’s Dave Fanning and podcaster and producer Lottie Ryan, among others, offer their own unique insights. This year’s festival will encompass an entire week, beginning with a performance by Daniel on Sunday, October 20.

When the Celt spoke with Daniel, he was in Perth, preparing to fly back to Ireland before travelling out again. He is gearing up to go on tour around Ireland in May, followed by Canada and the US in June.

He last played Cavan, at the Slieve Russell, in August 2023, and also has fond memories of playing annual shows at Ballinagh Community Centre.

Again for charity, in aid of the local Cystic Fibrosis support group, the first concert was in 1986 and it all began at the request of local fan, Kathleen Fitzsimons, who had two daughters living with the condition.

“We used to have great nights in Ballinagh,” remembers Daniel. “It’s a good while since we were in Ballinagh but, when we were doing it, they were super shows. We really had great times there, no doubt.”

The idea to play the Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Felim as part of the Drumlinia Music Festival and Industry Week 2024 this coming October was the brainchild of founder Don Mescall.

Daniel speaks highly of his fellow performer and songwriter who now resides in Belturbet.

“Don contacted me some time ago and, I think not long before he’d had Celine [Byrne] there, and he asked me about the possibility of coming. It’s a nice show to do,” says Daniel who has been a touring musician for 43 years this year.

“We’ve done a number of church shows, the last one was the Pro Cathedral in Dublin, and I enjoyed it very much, so yes I’m very much looking forward to the Cavan show. I don’t do them regularly, but they’re lovely shows to do.”

Daniel says there is something “very special” about singing spiritual songs in a church setting. “There is no better place to do a song like that than in a church.”

He also shares his fondness for Cavan too.

“As far back as the Farnham, and Crosskeys, The White Horse... I played in Belturbet, I can’t even remember when that was, but years and years and years ago. And of course the Slieve Russell.”

He adds of the Cavan cathedral concert: “[Don] is a pro, he’s been doing this forever, and my musical director and him have been talking. There’s a local choir too, and they’ll be involved, so it’ll be a lovely night.”

Daniel’s tour of Ireland last year sold out at all 13 venues, and his latest album ‘How Lucky I Must Be’ continues a record for chart success that stands him as being the only artist to have a release in the UK charts every year for 36 consecutive years.

The cathedral show will be his one and only appearance in Cavan in 2024. Daniel is delighted to offer his talents to support worthy causes such as Cystic Fibrosis in the past and now the Cathedral’s restoration fund: “I’ve been lucky myself, in life, and my career, and occasionally I get an opportunity to do things like that. It’s great to be able to do it. You have a great night and then some charity or organisation benefits.”

Speaking to the Celt, Drumlinia founder Don Mescall, says Daniel’s generosity and willingness to give of his time to play the Cavan show is a “mark of the man, as a performer, and a professional, and as a person”.

Don knows Daniel from his time working with the Donegal man at his former studio in London.

He’s excited to announce the Daniel concert after the inaugural Drumlinia festival in 2023 concluded with a Classical at the Cathedral featuring world renowned soprano Celine Byrne.

“Last year we closed out the industry week with our Classical at the Cathedral, a wonderfully uplifting concert. This year we have the opportunity to open our festival with Daniel O’Donnell and we couldn’t be prouder.”

Don is thankful too to the support shown by Cavan Institute and Cavan Arts Office for Drumlina, and welcomed The Anglo-Celt on board as media partner.

“It is incredible to sit down and work with people who are all pulling in the same direction, looking to do something really positive, and make things happen right here in Cavan. There’s a real energy to it.

“The Classical at the Cathedral was something special last year with Celine. All credit to Fr Kevin Fay for his vision in working on this with me. And once again I’ve been lucky enough to be able to call on my good friend, presenter and author Mary Kennedy, to host proceedings. So it will be something special, certainly.”

He says Cavan is fast becoming the place in which to “make things happen”.

“I know from speaking to people outside of Cavan that they’re starting to take notice of what we’ve been able to achieve here, of what’s happening. Its becoming more difficult to organise big events in the likes of Dublin. So naturally people will start looking elsewhere. Why not Cavan? Last year’s festival was incredible, and we have to make it bigger each year. We started Drumlinia to create opportunities, to inform, educate, encourage the next generation of musical talents. These are exciting times.”

Tickets for Daniel O’Donnell’s concert at the Cathedral will be available from Multisound Cavan and at www.townhallcavan.com from Friday, March 29.