A night of classic country, coming from Ireland

By Jerry Fink

Monday, May 12, 2008 | 2 a.m.

When Daniel O’Donnell pours his heart out in such country hits as Buck Owens’ “Love’s Gonna Live Here Again” or Conway Twitty’s “Hello Darlin’ ” you won’t hear a twang, although you might catch just the hint of an Irish brogue.

For almost 30 years the native of Ireland has been traveling the world singing the songs of some classic C&W singers, including his favorites, Charlie Pride and Loretta Lynn.

“I like all the singers of the more traditional country music, George Jones and all of those,” O’Donnell said recently from his home in Kincasslagh, County Donegal. “For the modern times, Randy Travis and Alan Jackson are my favorites.”

Country isn’t all he does. O’Donnell also delves into pop, rock and, yes, Irish tunes.

But country is his favorite. He says country songs from the United States are a lot like the music of his own country.

“They are similar in that both tell stories,” O’Donnell says. “In the Irish ballad, the story is very important. Country music is like that as well.”

O’Donnell was preparing for a North American tour that will bring him to Las Vegas for the first time. He will make his local debut Thursday at The Orleans.

Though he may not be well known locally, he is popular in other parts of the world, usually selling out concerts quickly.

He frequently tours the United States and often performs at the Tri Lakes Theatre in Branson, Mo., where he will be for three weeks in November. He has made Branson a regular stop since 1997.

O’Donnell’s interest in country music was inspired by his older sister, Margo, who was a popular country singer when he was growing up. He eventually joined her group and toured with her before striking out on his own. She no longer tours.

“Country music is very popular here in Ireland,” O’Donnell said. “A lot of singers here have sung country down through the years.”

When he isn’t on the road he’s in the studio, recording an album a year.

“This year we’re recording a lot of country standards, the big hits for a lot of the big stars,” O’Donnell says.

It should be out in October.

If O’Donnell hadn’t become a singer, he probably would have been a teacher.

“But once I started music, things seemed to fall into place, and here we are,” he said.