Singer Daniel O'Donnell on his wife Majella's illness

'Life can change in the blink of an eye'

"Life can change in the blink of an eye," singer Daniel O'Donnell said this morning as he opened up about his wife Majella's battle with cancer.

Majella and Daniel O'Donnell pictured at the launch of the Irish Cancer Society's 27th Daffodil Day

Starting next February, Daniel will take an extended career break of at least 18 months following Majella’s double mastectomy surgery.

"It would be nice to just have a bit of time to travel a wee bit but more than anything just stay at home," he told Marian Finnucane this morning on RTE Radio.

"We're going to have a break next February for 18 months."

"She's doing good. She had the s over six weeks ago. She's getting to the stage where she's feeling better

"Her attitude is very positive and that's been a real plus from the beginning, both for her and for me."

However, he said: "There are times when nothing will help... after the surgery, it's a very slow, painful process."

He said while he and Majella made the decision that he would continue working when she was diagnosed, they have now decided that Daniel will take the career break next year.

"The break we're taking is a choice we made; it's not a decision that was made for us."

Daniel insists that he won't miss performing - because he loves to sing in pubs just as much as he does at stadiums.

"I could get up and sing in a pub and I'd get the same feeling as if there were a thousand people there."

"The overriding feeling is that ...it's not like [my next shows are] last shows I'll ever do."

Meanwhile, he thanked the public for their support.

"Irish people have been fantastic since all of this happened."