Singer Daniel O'Donnell has spoken about how he broke up with his now wife Majella because she was a divorcee.
The country music star, who is devoutly Catholic, said he had reservations about dating her as he didn't want to go against the church's teachings.
"There was a lot to be considered and I stepped away for a bit," he told My Weekly magazine.
"It was a bit hard for me to come to terms with it because of my religious faith, but I got over that fairly quickly. I realised it was right for me to be happy.”
Daniel and Majella, who are especially well known as a couple thanks to their RTÉ series Daniel and Majella's B&B Road Trip, first met 20 years ago in Tenerife.
They tied the knot three years later in Daniel 's home town of Kincasslagh, Co Donegal .
Daniel also spoke of what a joy it has been to watch Majella's children grown up and have children of their own, RSVP Live reports.
"Their father is very much a part of their lives, but there was never any friction there," he went on.
"Now Siobhan [Majella’s daughter] has two children and I love to see them."
He revealed his plans to take a step back from touring to spend more time with his family and focus on his health.
“I feel it’s time to get a different balance, so next year I’m taking a lot more time off," he said.
"I just want to have time to enjoy the grandchildren and to be able to do things at the drop of the hat.
"I’d love to continue performing, and I don’t ever see myself saying ‘I’m retired’, but maybe more free time is what I’m looking to now - to slow down."
