MARGO - THE QUEEN OF COUNTRY & IRISH
To give a detailed picture of my 73 years on this great planet earth would take a long time so I will keep it as short and neat as possible.
I was born Margaret Catherine O’Donnell on February 6th 1951 in Donegal Hospital, Donegal Town, the second eldest of five children - John Bosco, myself, Kathleen, James and Daniel, born to Julia and Francis O’Donnell. My infant years were divided between my father’s home (Acres, Burtonport, County Donegal), my mother’s home (Owey Island), Forfar in Scotland and finally Kincasslagh in County Donegal.
I went to school at Belcruit National School, Dungloe National School and finally Loughanure Technical School all in my native Donegal.
At a young age, while still at school, my brother John and I spent our school holidays picking potatoes in Ayrshire and Renfrewshire, Scotland like many young people did from Donegal, Mayo and Kerry and other rural counties in Ireland.
I always sang as a young girl in our church choir and concerts in our local halls.
In 1964 I was approached by The Keynotes show band, a local group of lads from home, to sing with them. With my parents’ consent and strict orders from my dad to look out for me, I joined them and would sing locally at weekends and on school holidays and then we ventured to Scotland.
I never intended it to be my full time occupation. I always wanted to be a nurse, work at that for a while, get married to a nice man, settle down and have three or four children –not to be!
I recorded my first single “Bonny Irish Boy/Dear God” in 1968 with The Keynotes. The week of it’s release my dad passed away suddenly on August 16th and so my life would never be the same again, you see for me my dad hung the moon.
Being the second eldest the scene was set. I wanted to help my mother and after our record was released Margo and the Keynotes were in great demand.
We recorded our second single “Road by the River / Eyes of a Child” the following year and it was a huge success.
I was approached by a Dublin promoter in 1969 and was offered a secure wage and a good future. I talked it over with my mother and we decided to take the offer. It broke my heart but I left The Keynotes and Margo & The Country Folk were born. It was explosive that is the only way I could describe it. It was very hard to understand but it was a wonderful era.
Life is full of ups and downs and believe me l’ve had my share of both but I am still here, more than 55 years on.
In 2004 the Keynotes reformed to celebrate my 40 years in show business back in Donegal where it all started. It truly was a night to remember.
In 2014 I celebrated 50 years by releasing my 50 Songs 50 Years album of many of my favourites throughout the years.
Last year 2019 I celebrated 55yrs years in the music business and performed a series of sold out Concerts to celebrate this milestone including the I.N.E.C. Killarney
I have received many awards and accolades over the years which I am incredibly proud of and grateful for, sold many albums and best of all made many dear friends. None of the success and wonderful experiences I have had in my career would have been possible without the many loyal true fans I’ve been so lucky to have with me and to meet in person.
Thank you so much for your kindness and for all the special memories.
Love always,
Margo x
Read the full story behind Margo’s amazing life and career
The official memoir of Margo O'Donnell, legendary Irish Country Music singer. For fifty years now the name 'Margo' has been synonymous with everything that is positive and enriching in Country and Irish music. This is the story of her life, the successes and difficult times, in her own words.