Athlone performer secures job as Daniel O'Donnell's backing singer

Athlone native Lorraine McDonald has been lucky enough to secure a job as one of Daniel O'Donnell's backing singers.

Lorraine previously was asked to fill in for other singers a number of times which enabled her to get to know the band and to build a relationship with them. She was also asked to fill in for tours but had other obligations with family and work at the time.

Lorraine said she started working on Daniel's TG4 show, Opry le Daniel, last year and worked with country singer Trionagh Allen who is married to Tony Allen of international music duo, Foster and Allen fame and based in Mount Temple. “We gelled very well and sat very well together in the show as vocalists," added Lorraine.

“The show is quite intense, we recorded six shows in three days.” Lorraine said that on the fourth day of recording, they filmed five one-hour shows for American TV channels PBS and RFD-TV to promote Daniel's concerts.

The opportunity arose for Lorraine to join the band after one of Daniel's former singers left the band last January. Speaking about this, Lorraine said: “The position came to my door and I said to myself now is the time for me.”

The talented singer said that her children are more independent now which means that she has the time to devote to her career. “I spoke to my brother Keith and he said 'go for it.' He was so encouraging.”

Lorraine is also grateful to the Wineport Lodge for giving her a job during lockdown when there was no work in the entertainment industry and said that the team there were delighted when she got the job with Daniel “because they know music is (her) life.”

Lorraine has already toured in the UK with Daniel's band and said that the experience on the tour bus was something she'd never done before. “That was an interesting experience. I was surprised how quickly everything fell into place on stage and with the band. The transition was very easy.”

“All of the gigs in England were amazing but to perform in the London Palladium was pretty special.”

Lorraine continued: “Daniel has 40 albums recorded so there's so much to learn. I still have so much to learn because we're going to the US.”

"The show is very professional. It's a joy to be part of it.” Lorraine said that she's looking forward to the next few years working with the band.

She added that she's excited about everything in terms of the new job and that being on stage with Daniel is just a joy. “He gives 100%. He's lovely off the stage, just a gentleman.”

When Lorraine first started rehearsing with the band when she officially landed a job as Daniel's backing singer, Daniel said that he couldn't believe 'the stars aligned' that Lorraine was joining the band.

When Lorraine isn't working for Daniel she will still be performing and starring in the summer show at the Mount Falcon Hotel in Ballina, Co. Mayo which boasts an outdoor open-air marquee with heating and a full bar.

Lorraine had the amazing opportunity to perform there with Bill Murray two years ago when he was staying there with his family. Lorraine stated: “He was very quirky. He kind of looked at me and said 'who are you?' I said I'm going to be entertaining you tonight.”

While the Athlone woman was performing on stage, Bill was sitting at the front and she said that she “could see he was dying to get up on stage.” Lorraine called the American actor and comedian on stage and he sang backing vocals to Mustang Sally. Bill said he loved Lorraine's renditions of '9 to 5' and 'Simply the Best' and then Lorraine said that they “got all the photos in the world. It was a great experience and he's a nice man.”

Lorraine is looking forward to the future and travelling the world touring with Daniel's band and will be working with her father Frankie and brother Keith in the meantime.

Lorraine and Keith also have their own show on Sky TV called the 'Keith & Lorraine Showband Show.'

Daniel’s Irish summer tour will play a sold out concert in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone on Friday, August 11.

Lorraine is the daughter of Frankie McDonald, who was the trumpet player and backing singer in Joe Dolan’s band for 40 years.