Singer Daniel O’Donnell’s mother Julia dies aged 94

Singer Daniel O’Donnell has announced the death of his 94-year-old mother Julia this morning.

Mrs O’Donnell passed away at 3.50am as her family kept a bedside vigil.

"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, May 18 at 3.50am," said O'Donnell (52).

“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,” he added.

The singer’s wife Majella also revealed the news to her Twitter followers.

“It is with sadness that I announce the death of Daniel’s mother Julia, rest in peace” she wrote.

The Donegal singer rushed home earlier this week from gigging in Scotland as his mother became seriously ill.

Julia O’Donnell, a native of the small island of Owey, Co Donegal, moved to Kincasslagh when she married Francie O’Donnell. The couple went on to have five children, the youngest of whom was Daniel.

Mrs O’Donnell was widowed in 1968 when her husband died from a heart attack aged 49. Daniel was only six years old and he has recalled how his mother raised her five children single-handedly.

“I suspect people have the impression that my mother kept me hanging on to her apron strings when I was a kid, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“She wasn’t at all overprotective. I had great freedom, a terrific childhood the same as everyone else in our area. I was always in and out of neighbours’ houses when I was a child and I was full of news,” said the performer.

In recent years Mrs O’Donnell went to live with her daughter Kathleen and her family in Kincasslagh before moving to nursing home care in Dungloe.

Funeral details are currently being arranged.