Margo (music)
Encyclopedia
Margo is an Irish
singer. She rose to prominence during the 1960s in the Irish country music
scene and has had a successful career since.
in County Donegal
, Ireland
. She grew up in a Catholic family, with her parents Julia (née McGonagle) and Francis O'Donnell and her siblings: John (the eldest), Kathleen, James and Daniel. Her father died of a heart attack when she was young.
at a very young age in 1964 with a local showband, The Keynotes. She recorded her first single in 1968, "Bonny Irish Boy/Dear God", which was a success as was her second single, "If I Could See the World Through the Eyes of a Child/Road By the River" released in 1969 cemented her newfound stardom with fans. Margo has been a successful singer for five decades and has sold over 1 million records to date and has performed with such legends as Johnny Cash
, Loretta Lynn
and Dolly Parton
. She also presented numerous TV shows for RTÉ
in the 1970s and has collected many awards during her long career. In October 2007, she travelled to the United States to record with country singer George Jones
.
For the past several years, she has been performing her annual benefit concerts in Chicago for Father Rookey and the Saint Patrick Fathers, a charity that sends money around the world to help the poor.
. Daniel got his start with Margo's band in the early 1980s while attending college in Galway. Margo was named "2007 Donegal Person Of The Year" and spent most of 2007 traveling the length and breath of the country
acting as an ambassador to her native county.
She has spoken publicly about her battles with alcoholism
and depression
, which she attributes to the stress of years of touring and financial difficulties due to poor management contracts.
She makes her home in Annahale, Castleblayney
, County Monaghan
, where she has lived for the past 20 years.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
singer. She rose to prominence during the 1960s in the Irish country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
scene and has had a successful career since.
Background
Margo was brought up in the small village of KincasslaghKincasslagh
Cionn Caslach or Ceann Caslach is a small Gaeltacht seaside village in the Rosses area of County Donegal, Ireland...
in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. She grew up in a Catholic family, with her parents Julia (née McGonagle) and Francis O'Donnell and her siblings: John (the eldest), Kathleen, James and Daniel. Her father died of a heart attack when she was young.
Career
Margo started performing country musicCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
at a very young age in 1964 with a local showband, The Keynotes. She recorded her first single in 1968, "Bonny Irish Boy/Dear God", which was a success as was her second single, "If I Could See the World Through the Eyes of a Child/Road By the River" released in 1969 cemented her newfound stardom with fans. Margo has been a successful singer for five decades and has sold over 1 million records to date and has performed with such legends as Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn is an American country music singer-songwriter, author and philanthropist. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to a coal miner father, Lynn married at 13 years old, was a mother soon after, and moved to Washington with her husband, Oliver Lynn. Their marriage was sometimes tumultuous; he...
and Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
. She also presented numerous TV shows for RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
in the 1970s and has collected many awards during her long career. In October 2007, she travelled to the United States to record with country singer George Jones
George Jones
George Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
.
For the past several years, she has been performing her annual benefit concerts in Chicago for Father Rookey and the Saint Patrick Fathers, a charity that sends money around the world to help the poor.
Personal life and achievements
Margo is the sister of Irish crooner Daniel O'DonnellDaniel O'Donnell (Irish singer)
Daniel Francis Noel O'Donnell is an Irish singer, television presenter and philanthropist. O'Donnell came to public attention in 1983 and has since become a household name in Ireland and the UK. He has also had considerable success in the US. He is known for his close relationship with his...
. Daniel got his start with Margo's band in the early 1980s while attending college in Galway. Margo was named "2007 Donegal Person Of The Year" and spent most of 2007 traveling the length and breath of the country
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
acting as an ambassador to her native county.
She has spoken publicly about her battles with alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, which she attributes to the stress of years of touring and financial difficulties due to poor management contracts.
She makes her home in Annahale, Castleblayney
Castleblayney
Castleblayney or Castleblaney is a town in County Monaghan, Ireland. The town has a population of about 3,000.Castleblayney lies near the border with County Armagh and is on the N2 road from Dublin to Derry...
, County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, where she has lived for the past 20 years.