BELOVED IRISH country singer and all-round national treasure Daniel O’Donnell has paid a surprise visit to a Donegal community hospital where he performed an impromptu concert to help lift spirts among elderly residents.
Eager to do his bit to help those living through lockdown, O’Donnell treated cocooners at Falcarragh Community Hospital to a mini concert performed live and direct from the garden of their residential home.
Some of a fan favourite among Ireland’s elderly, residents from across the 35-bed unit watched on from the hospital’s windows as the Kincasslagh-born country star sang some of his most recognisable hits.
O’Donnell had called the hospital ahead of time to ensure everyone was ready for his arrival.
It was a lovely gesture for the patients who have been unable to receive visitors for months.
Hospital staff member Abi O’Donnell captured several pictures and a video from the unforgettable performance.
"On behalf of all the residents & staff in Falcarragh Community Hospital, we would like to say a massive thank you to the one and only Daniel O’Donnell,” she wrote on Facebook.
“Words cannot express the joy you brought to the residents this afternoon.”
It’s the second free concert O’Donnell has put on for cocooners in Ireland, having previously sang for patients over at Dungloe Hospital.
Speaking to Ireland AM about the impromptu performances, the country music legend said:
“A few weeks ago I was here and said to Majella, you know I think if I got a wee speaker we’ll go up to the local hospital in Dungloe, that has a number of residents who are there all the time.
“Yesterday I went up again, they have an enclosed garden in the middle of the rooms, we had a sing-song.
“Then I went to Gweedore they’ve another home there and I sang outside there.
“Sure it passes the time for me, takes nothing out of me and gives a wee bit of a change of atmosphere to those people who are in the hospitals and various places.”
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