Daniel odonnell to get handson in mayo

DANIEL O’Donnell is famed for his singing, and more recently his dancing on Strictly Come Dancing, where he safely sauntered through to the next round this evening, but Cong Festival Committee are after his hands.

Daniel has been selected as the 2016 recipient of the Cong Hands of Fame Award (CHOFA) in recognition of his work as an ambassador for Irish music.

The CHOFA is presented to those who are deemed to have promoted Irish culture at home and abroad.

Committee representatives will travel to Rubens Hotel in London tomorrow (Monday) to meet with Daniel and take a mould of his hands, which will be cast in bronze and placed on the Cong Hands of Fame wall along side those of Ryan Tubridy and former Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh.

The hands will be unveiled at a special ceremony in the village next June.

Speaking from his apartment in London where he was actively shining his shoes for the Strictly Come Dancing set, Daniel said: “I am deeply honoured to have been chosen for this fantastic award and I look forward to making a return visit to Cong.”

Daniel was last in Cong in 2011 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the filming of the Quiet Man, when he met with Maureen O'Hara.

Said festival chairman Patrick Luskin: “We to are honoured to have Daniel make a return to Cong and this time be honoured himself. It will be a great boost for tourism in the village and further enhances the Hands of Fame Wall.”