SEVEN DEADLY SINS: Popular Offaly man has been in the music business for over 30 years

Dickie Donnelly has been in the music business for over 30 years. A native of Birr - with a background in many areas including healthcare and sales - Dickie has travelled and performed worldwide and in recent years has been the front-man for the well-established Route 66 Big Band, while also making a name on the wedding/corporate entertainment scene.
Dickie has a keen love for the outdoors, good coffee, hosting community social platforms and general involvement in his community.
Dickie was also nominated for Wedding Entertainment Supplier Of The Year 2024 on the prestigious weddings-online platform.

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LUST: Who or what do you find yourself lusting after today and why?
Podcasting - I am absolutely loving podcasting and podcasts. There are so many interesting people out there with amazing stories to tell and I think it's great that podcasting has made these stories accessible for all to hear. We have began making a series of podcasts here in Offaly and I’m lusting and loving the whole process.

GREED: What should you be cutting down on (non-food or drink) and why?
Saying yes; I am currently trying to learn to say no to people across the board because I simply haven’t enough time to do everything. In a recent chance meeting with a very famous Kerry politician (wearing a peak cap), after 20 minutes of chatting, he said to me “jaysus you are a fierce busy man… I don’t know how you stay going”. I am currently attending to everything in order of importance.

GLUTTONY: What one thing could you happily eat or drink until you burst, and why?
Indian food, I could eat it for breakfast, dinner and tea. I often reheated a samosa or two and had them at 9am, hence the extra poundage on the front of me. I'm a basic eater but slightly picky, spuds have to be hot enough and ice cream has to be cold enough. Good coffee is the most important beverage in my daily living. The higher quality the better, please don’t ask me would I like a coffee and shovel a spoon of Maxwell House mild blend into a mug or i'll exit your house swiftly.

SLOTH: What should you be putting your back into now and why?
My weight, I’m like Liberace the singer or Robert de Niro preparing for a role, I’m thin in the summer and pudgy in the winte. I need to put my back into my walking and walk three steps back from the table. I keep putting it off instead of getting stuck in. I was never a sporty chap, so the treadmill drives me bananas, but I love walking the roads.

WRATH: Who or what makes you angry and why?
Bullying, especially at school level, bullying makes me froth at the mouth; to think a child is struggling with bullying or not included hurts me to the core. With the changing population and with the way the world is gone, I think we really need to start taking way bigger responsibility for our children and show them the correct way forward.

ENVY: Who are you jealous of and why?
The 9 to 5iver… I have plenty of friends who work 9 to 5 and come Fridays they are done for the weekend. I don’t know what this feels like and never did. I envy anyone who is happy out working a 9 to 5. I'd go bananas every weekend trying to figure out what to do. I would probably need my better half to set up a schedule. I struggle to sit still at the best of times.

PRIDE: What’s your proudest achievement and why?
I am very proud of where I am in my music career. It might not seem like much to people but to me it's huge. I met various challenges over the years and went to hang up the microphone on several occasions. To be able to perform in the sector I am working and feel somewhat fulfilled is a proud moment for me. It makes me proud every day when I receive reviews or texts from wedding couples telling me they are grateful for my input into their special day.

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