Updated 7.55pm
SINGER DANIEL O’DONNELL has confirmed the death of his mother, Julia. The 94-year-old passed away at Dungloe Community Hospital in Co Donegal in the early hours of this morning.
Affectionately known as “Ireland’s most famous mammy”, Julia was born on the tiny Donegal island of Owey in 1919.
She left the island as a teenager and moved to Scotland, where she worked for time before meeting her husband Francie and returning to live in Kincasslagh.
Julia has enjoyed something of a celebrity status in recent years, in the wake of her son’s international musical success.
She has battled poor health in recent years, and the singer returned from abroad to be at her bedside this week, after she was said to be “very ill”.
The country star posted this statement on his website this morning:
It is with great sadness that we have to announce that our dear mother Julia passed away peacefully in the loving care of the staff of Dungloe hospital surrounded by all her family on Sunday 18 May at 3.50am.
My siblings John, Margaret, Kathleen, James and myself would like to thank you all for the kindness you have shown to her down through the years.
May her gentle soul rest in peace.
The singer’s father, Francie, died of a heart attack aged 49 in 1967.
- First published 10.30am
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