There won’t be any bi-lingual Late Late for Daniel!
Even though he is about to present his 16th annual hugely popular eight-part series Opry le Daniel for TG4 later this month Daniel O’Donnell told The Tuam Herald that he has no interest in ever presenting a novel bi-lingual episode of The Late Late Show!
Once again Big Mountain Productions filmed his new Opry series, before a live audience at shows in Derry’s Millennium Forum, featuring a variety of special guests.
He also revealed to this newspaper that discussions had taken place in the past with the late Dolores Keane to have a special programme on her achievements but sadly that didn’t happen.
While Daniel is so adaptable at presenting those bi-lingual music shows he is adamant that any suggestions of him being suitable for presenting or co-presenting a bi-lingual Late Late Show would be more than a bridge too far for him.
“Oh! I think doing anything like that would be a bridge out into the ocean for me and it would be a bridge of no return,” he laughed.
Opry le Daniel
Each show on his new series has different labels indicating the diverse type of musical mix on the programmes.
The Country Folk programme will feature Seán Keane and Máiréad Ní Mhaonaigh, Irish fiddler and lead vocalist with Altan, as they pay tribute to the songs of the iconic Folk legends the late Dolores Keane and Moya Brennan.
Contemporary Country sees Donna Taggart (Co. Tyrone), Ballinaslloe’s Rachel Goode and Offaly’s Simon Casey joining Daniel on stage.
The New Opry programme features Damian Davis (Co. Monaghan), Effie Neill (Co. Cork), and Ruairidh Gray from the Island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides while the Country ’n Irish show sees Margo (Co. Monaghan), New York-based Andy Cooney, and Caitríona Ní Cheannabháin (Conemara) all taking to the stage.
There will be a Susan McCann 50th Celebration show also as Daniel celebrates Susan’s 50 years in show business, and she is joined on stage by special guest Brendan Quinn (Co. Derry), as well as her husband Denis, daughter Linda and granddaughter Sinéad Heaney.
The Classic Country programme features Michael English (Co. Kildare), Olivia Douglas (Co. Offaly), and David James (Donegal). The series rounds off with two special programmes featuring a pick of highlights of some of the performances from across the six shows.
While having no wish to pack in singing for a full-time career on TV, Daniel says that he particularly enjoys the cut and thrust of presenting the annual series of Opry le Daniel before live audiences.
“There is always a great atmosphere, and the audiences are brilliant, so it’s a real pleasure to be back. We had a wonderful mix of music and many varied guests this time around on the shows on TG4.”
He added that it was great having Seán Keane and Máiréad Ní Mhaonaigh, Irish fiddler and lead vocalist with Altan, to pay tribute to the songs of the late Dolores Keane and Moya Brennan.
“Twas lovely to pay tribute to both of them and we were grateful that Seán was willing to do it as I’m sure that it wasn’t easy for him so soon after his sister Dolores had passed away.
“There were talks with Dolores in the past about having her on the Opry this year. That was the plan, and we were very sad that it was never realised. This possibility was first mentioned to her a few years ago but I think she may have had knee surgery at the time and couldn’t do it then. While the production people were all guns blazing to make it happen this year sadly it wasn’t to be, but Seán graciously stepped in when asked,” he added.
“The same with Máiréad Ní Mhaonaigh because she was a great friend of Moya Brennan as we all were,” added Daniel.
American Country Music
Over the years Daniel has hosted the biggest names in Country music from the world stage, including Charley Pride, Crystal Gayle, and Rita Coolidge, not forgetting many of Ireland’s home-grown talents on his TV shows.
“Some of the American singers, including the late Dolly Parton and Ricky Skaggs, as well as many of the Bluegrass musicians really identify that connection with Irish music over the years.
“A lot of that goes back to the TV series from a few years ago Bringing it all Back Home where there was a great connection with Emmylou Harris and Dolores and Mary Black and others singing on it. They have that great link with both Irish and Scottish music,” he says.
So, perhaps that was a good reason for having Ruairidh Gray from the Island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides on one of the new programmes? I ventured.
“He has the most beautiful voice which really came to the fore especially when he sang the Padre of Old San Antone in the Gallic and it was absolutely gorgeous,” gushed Daniel.
“But regarding any suggestion that I might do a bi-lingual Late Late Show sometime my reaction is that I think I’ll leave that to someone who might know better,” he roared.
Each programme in Daniel’s new series, which started on Thursday 29th October at 10.30pm on TG4, will also be available to view after broadcast on the TG4 player.
Some of his own songs from the series, including several that he sings in Irish, will also be screened for the first time on the RFD TV channel in America and Canada.