Big hearted gesture from Daniel
One of the most inspiring figures in Irish Country music, Daniel O'Donnell, has donated the entirety of his performance fee from his recent concert at Cavan Cathedral to a local charity.
The Donegal star and TV presenter has made headlines before for his musical achievements and commitment to philanthropy. Now he has donated the €5,000 owed to him from performing at the Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Felim in October, as part of the Drumlinia Music and Industry Week, to St Vincent de Paul in Cavan Town.
“It speaks to the person that he is,” says fellow singer-songwriter Don Mescall, founder and organiser of the Drumlinia festival. “An incredible talent with an even bigger heart.”
The Celt understands that when the internationally renowned singing sensation was first contacted by Mescall about playing at Cavan cathedral, Daniel committed to it on one condition: “That he would donate his appearance fee to a local charity. He said St Vincent de Paul. Who was I to argue?” recalls Mescall, adding that Daniel “insisted” for this to happen.
The only other firm stipulation set down was that the money “had to stay local”.
“It was a real act of kindness. That kind of thing just doesn't happen any more.”
On top of his own personal donation, the sold-out show with more than 1,000 in attendance had an even wider impact by bolstering the cathedral's long-standing restoration fund.
Siobhán Cosgrove is joint chair with the St Patrick's Conference of St Vincent de Paul in Cavan Town. She shares the position with co-chair Lynda Byrne, and the local chapter focuses on helping the most in need struggling to make ends meet who turn to them for urgent assistance, especially in the run up to Christmas.
Everyone associated with Vincent's were stunned by the news that Daniel had donated his earnings.
“It was a massive surprise, yes. It's going to be a massive help because, from November to the end of March especially, we do a lot of coal runs for a lot of people over 65. Our bills are coming in now every month, at least €2,000, even €4,000 a month,” says Siobhán.
The conference provide food vouchers also to some families, and also help out others with toys for children.
“We are so happy and so grateful to Daniel. Very humbled,” adds Siobhán.
“This money will do a lot of good for a lot of people. You'd be a long time collecting it.”
Mescall meanwhile is already working on a plan for next year's festival.
“The week after Celine Byrne performed the first year was the week I booked Daniel to perform for the following. That's the level of preparation that's needed to pull something of this scale off. It's a year's work and more to get everything right.”
If year one was the festival's launch, year two was “embedding it in the hearts and minds” of people.
“Showing them that this wasn't a once off, a flash in the pan, one and done. To show people this can be done, right here in Cavan, that it can be successful and it can be sustained in a really healthy way.
“You have the likes of Willie Kavanagh, head of [the Irish Recorded Music Association] or John Saunderson of Notting Hill Music, coming down and being absolutely blown away. You realise that the word is spreading quickly. They'd never been to Cavan before and now Notting Hill want to be involved in next year's festival and even bring an unsigned local band and showcase them in London. There is really nothing out there quite like what we're doing here in Cavan with Drumlinia.”