Singer Daniel O’Donnell has said his family is still “in shock” following the sudden death of his sister.
Kathleen Doogan (nee O’Donnell) passed away at her home in Kincasslagh, Co Donegal on Friday. Her funeral took place on Monday morning.
The sister of Margo, Jamesie, Daniel and John Bosco O’Donnell, she was a well-known figure and previously ran the Viking House Hotel in Kincasslagh with her husband John after it was purchased by her entertainer brother.
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Daniel was particularly close to Kathleen and revealed that there was “no warning” as she died of a suspected heart attack.
He posted on social media that it was "with great sadness and disbelief" that he announced the sudden passing of his "dear sister Kathleen".
"We are all in shock and heartbroken. May her soul rest in peace. Please keep us in your prayers."
The country music singer, 61, later explained that Kathleen was feeling fine when she woke up in the morning as he recalled her strength and the support she gave to him and her entire family.
Daniel said the family is still “in shock” as everything happened “so quickly”.
“If Kathleen was in your corner you didn’t need an army,” he told the Sunday World.
“Our entire family is in shock because it was so sudden,” Daniel added. “Trish (Kathleen’s daughter) and her young children had been staying with Kathleen and her husband, John, for a couple of days.
“Kathleen had been up early that morning and had given the wee ones a bath and dried their hair. She had made a shopping list and then went to wash her hair before going to SuperValu with Trish. The list is still on the table.
“It happened so quickly, there was no warning. Kathleen hadn’t been sick. She was well that morning, doing normal things. That’s why it’s so hard to take in.”
Paying tribute, Daniel said Kathleen was at the centre of their family and took care of their mother until she passed away in May 2014.
“When she got married to John in 1979, they moved into the family home and our mother lived with them until she died. When I would phone, Kathleen would have all the news and she would keep you up to date on everything,” he said.
He called his sister “very supportive” as she never missed anything her younger brother Daniel did in Ireland or around the world.
“She had endless energy and would go to the ends of the earth for me,” he said. “Recently, when I said I was going to Creeslough to sing at the Mass, she was there ready for the road to take me. If I had to go to Dublin afterwards, she would go to Dublin with me, if I needed the drive.
“Of course, if you needed to be told off about something there was no better woman, too!”
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