A jut of the hip to the right, a cock of the head to the left and a full blown laugh. As Irish Country Living snaps the blond beauty that is Majella O’Donnell for this week’s front cover, it’s hard to believe that recently she became a grandmother.

It’s also hard to believe that just a few years ago she was battling breast cancer, that occasionally she plummets into the deepest of depressions and that once upon a time, she experienced a marriage breakup that left her feeling broken, lonely and fearful.

What’s not hard to believe is that this lady (and there is no other word to describe her) was snapped up 15 years ago by Daniel O’Donnell, who at the time was one of Ireland’s most eligible bachelors. She is soft-spoken, full of wisdom and has quite a story to tell as this year’s keynote speaker.

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Life’s Learning’s

“I’ve definitely learned a lot since the dark days of my marriage breakup,” Majella tells Irish Country Living.

“At the time, my children, Siobhan and Michael, were young and I remember feeling like such a victim. Why me? What did I do to deserve this? Why can’t I make him happy? I felt that everything bad was happening to me because of the actions of somebody else.

“Then I started attending a counsellor and reading self-help books and it was like a light switch went on. I realised I was in control, not anybody else. It wasn’t easy because I had to take responsibility for my role in the situation but I realised I had a choice – everybody does.

“You might not like that choice but you do have it. In fact, when something bad happens, you have three choices: let it destroy you, define you or strengthen you.”

However, it took time and practice to implement this in her life.

“I had to work hard but you really are stronger than you think. So much of it is in your attitude and mind frame. Some mornings, I have to say to myself: ‘I’m choosing to be happy today.’ I might not feel it but sometimes you have to nearly act the way you want to be and your mind comes around,” she says.

Dark Cloud of Depression

That’s not to say that Majella doesn’t have bad days.

“Suffering from depression – that’s different. It’s a really dark place that for me is brought on by stress and anxiety. And when it hits, I just want to be left alone; I can’t cook, I can’t shop. Don’t even ask me if I want a cup of tea because that means I have to make a decision. I know it sounds ridiculous but it’s true.”

She says Daniel is the one person who really helps her cope.

“He knows it’s important to leave me alone but to never let me feel like I am alone. There’s a big difference.”

You might wonder how a beautiful woman with a lovely husband, homes in Donegal and Tenerife, and no money worries suffers from bouts of depression, but depression doesn’t depend on your situation.

“Unless you’ve had depression you wouldn’t understand that it’s got nothing to do with any of that. You cannot see past that dark cloud, you can’t see the good, you can’t relate to people or socialise.

“You just want to go under the duvet. And because of the fact that I have all these things in my life, I feel even more guilty,” she says.

“I have thoughts like people would be better off without me; I’m a moaner – how does Daniel put up with me? But the thing is no matter how good it looks like from the outside, nobody has it perfect.”

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Dealing with challenges in life will be a real focus for Majella during her presentation at the Women & Agriculture Conference. However, dealing with breast cancer was a challenge that she knew she would overcome.

“I never really believed it would end me. My attitude was: get on with it. They told me it was curable and I was having the treatment. I could only deal with the knowledge that I had at that point and I avoided the what-if thinking. Maybe if I had been terminal, it would have been a different story but given the information I had, I really focused on the positives.”

Focusing on the positives is one thing but deciding to shave your head on live television is a whole other ball game.

“That notion was not from within. There was definitely a higher being at play there. Sure where would you get such a wacky idea?” she laughs.

“I remember the moment so clearly. I knew my hair was going to fall out soon and I was just drifting off to sleep when suddenly I thought, I’ll shave my head for charity on The Late Late Show. Now it’s not like I could ring up and say: ‘Hello, do you want me to shave my head on the show?’ But once I got the idea, I was fanatical about it. We did a bit of work, they were really enthusiastic about the idea and there I was a week later in the studio.”

Majella says she broke down just beforehand.

“It was during an ad break and Ryan Tubridy was saying: ‘Look, Majella, you can still back out, you can change your mind if it’s too much.’ But I was determined, and then elated when I did it. I thought we might raise €20,000 but the final count was over €700,000. It was amazing and I believe it really was meant to be. Luckily, my cancer was caught early and especially as its Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I always say to make sure you check the ‘girls’ regularly.”

Beating cancer certainly was meant to be as Majella has a lot to look forward to. Her granddaughter, Olivia, was born during the summer.

“I’m looking forward to every moment of her growing up. It’s been just wonderful. She looks just like Siobhan did as a baby so, for me, it feels like having your own all over again.

“I can say to Siobhan: ‘Give her to me’, or: ‘Go in for a lie down and I’ll take her’. It’s such a comfortable relationship when it’s your daughter. If it was anyone else, they might be thinking: ‘Oh, she doesn’t think I’m doing it right’, but Siobhan has known me her whole life and knows exactly what I’ll like.”

Besides her children and granddaughter, what else makes Majella proud?

“It’s not the book, or the head shave or any television show – those were all experiences. It’s the talks that I do at conferences like Women & Agriculture that give me the most satisfaction. I always wanted to give back. I talk about my experiences in the hope that it helps others. I love the fact that people seem to get something out of them.”

Ladies, we’ve listened to your requests and are delighted to announce Majella O’Donnell as the keynote speaker at this year’s Women & Agriculture Conference, which takes place in the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim, Co Meath, on 29 October. For more information, log on to www.farmersjournal.ie