Singer Daniel O'Donnell served more than 5,000 cups of tea yesterday to fans from around the world who turned up at his open day in Kincasslagh, Co Donegal. He welcomed fans from Ireland, England, Scotland, Australia, the US and New Zealand to his first tea-party in three years.
The party was postponed in 1997 when crowds got so big the tiny fishing village was being brought to a standstill.
Its return this year led thousands of fans to book their annual holidays to coincide with the event. More than 40 coachloads of fans from Britain arrived, and many more were in the county for his three concerts as part of the Mary from Dungloe International Festival.
The tea-party started by accident several years ago, when Daniel jokingly invited the fans at a Dungloe concert to his house for a cup of tea. Thousands turned up the following morning.
Tea and biscuits were served from noon until late in the evening yesterday, with Daniel's mother Julia and sister Margo helping out. Daniel spent the day being photographed and signing autographs even in the rain. Money raised on the day goes to his Romanian orphanage appeal.
Fans queued since early morning while several dozen camped overnight in the nearby fields. Dedicated fan Ms Iris Treanor (62), from Brisbane, travelled 6,000 miles. Although she has been a fan of the singer for 13 years, this is the first time she's enjoyed tea with him.
"I remember as I was listening to a song of his one day I could feel the hair standing on the back of my neck. I really like Daniel and it wouldn't matter to me if he couldn't sing because he's the nicest person in the world I've ever met. He's so friendly, kind and really genuine and the fact that he sings is an added bonus," she said.
The oldest fan present, Ms Mabel Robinson (95), from Henley-on-Thames, has been a fan for six years.
"I like everything about Daniel. He's very friendly and very outgoing and of course he's a great singer." Ms Brigid Ward, from Donaghmeade in Dublin, was outside the singer's door at 6.45 a.m. to be first in the queue. "There was no one about when I arrived in the morning so I just sat in the garden and read my book. The next lady arrived about 7.30 a.m. so we starting talking about Daniel. I really love him and will keep going to his concerts as long as I can."
On Sunday the singer will interview the 16 women participating in the "Mary from Dungloe" contest. His three gigs were sell-outs and fans contributed to his Romanian appeal fund by purchasing battery-operated candles. They lit them when he sang the appeal fund anthem, Give A Little Love.