Ireland

Daniel O'Donnell shows off baking skills for book launch

Daniel O'Donnell invited chef Brian McDermott in for a cuppa before the launch of the Inishowen chef's cookery book
Daniel O'Donnell invited chef Brian McDermott in for a cuppa before the launch of the Inishowen chef's cookery book Daniel O'Donnell invited chef Brian McDermott in for a cuppa before the launch of the Inishowen chef's cookery book

A chef has celebrated the launch of his new book of recipes with a trip to west Donegal for a Daniel O’Donnell tea party.

Inishowen chef Brian McDermott and his family were welcomed by the singer at his Kincasslagh home in advance of the release of Brian McDermott’s Donegal Table tomorrow.

While the tea party was not on the same scale as O'Donnell's thousands-strong afternoon teas which became a national phenomenon 20 years ago, Mr McDermott said it was still special.

Filmed by RTÉ, it featured Daniel baking a barmbrack from the book.

He also spoke intimately about his bond with his mother Julia, who died in 2014 aged 94.

“Daniel told me how he would be in the kitchen cooking with her and do things like lick the bowl. He said that actually the last time he baked in the kitchen was with his mother,” Mr McDermott said.

“Brian and Daniel’s Tea Party” will be broadcast on RTE’s Today Show with Dáithi and Maura next Monday March 12.