Daniel O'Donnell to close long-running fan club but singer has no plans to retire
Daniel O'Donnell has assured his army of followers that he has no plans to retire, despite announcing that he is winding down his official fan club.The Co Donegal singer has revealed his long-running fan club will cease operations at the end of the year, in part due to his recent decision to take a lengthy break from touring.The 63-year-old's move to close down his fan club will mean that the next edition of his eponymous magazine — which will be distributed to the legions of fan club members across the world in December — will be his last.The announcement follows Mr O'Donnell's decision earlier this year to take an extended break from touring, but he vowed to get back on the road once he was "back to full health".Writing in the penultimate edition of Daniel, Mr O'Donnell said: "As many of you probably know, I have decided to take a break from touring at the end of the year to recharge my batteries."While I'm in very good health, thank God, I have had some issues with allergies and recurring chest infections recently. So I decided it was best to take some time out and focus on my well-being."It's a necessary step to recharge and get myself back to full health. I do want to reassure everyone again that I am very well. It's just the touring makes it a little more difficult to getting back to 100%. Again, as I said before, this is not retirement. This is just time off!"In the same publication, fan club secretary Suzanne Fordelisi said the decision to close the long-running club was made "with a heavy heart"."There are a few reasons behind this decision. Firstly, Daniel himself is taking an extended break from his busy schedule," she said. "Additionally, the costs involved in maintaining the fan club have been steadily rising. These increased costs, combined with the reduced activity, have made it increasingly difficult to sustain the club in a way that continues to serve and connect with fans meaningfully."Also, as the use of social media continues to grow, fans have instant access to a wide array of information well before they receive their official fan club letters. This constant stream of updates, news and details available online means that fans are often already familiar with much of the information, which can make it difficult for the fan club to have exclusive details."She added: "We want to express our deepest gratitude for your loyalty, passion, and unwavering support throughout the years. Your enthusiasm has created a warm and vibrant community that we have been proud to be a part of. "It has been an honour to share in the joy of Daniel's music, his performances, and the special bond that fans like you have."
