THE highly popular Irish singer Daniel O’ Donnell, who is performing at Eden Court this month is to be the celebrity guest at the Corbett Centre’s Open Day on Saturday 23rd August. People sleep on the pavement the night before the box office opens when he visits the Highland Capital, and his two shows, on 23rd and 24th August are long since sold out. He last performed in Inverness four years ago.

But fans, hungry for a view of their hero, will be able to see him in the flesh at the Corbett Centre when he opens the event and talks to attendees and staff. It was a member of staff, who is friendly with the Irish star, who persuaded him along to the Corbett Centre for their big day.

Says our Corbett Centre reporter, Michael Bolster, “We hope there will be a good turn-out of Merkinchers and visitors to meet him.”

O’Donnell was born in Donegal on 12th December 1961. His boy-next-door charm has won the hearts of both grannies and young mums. Married, he is a non-drinker, but admits to enjoying chocolate. And for fans who didn’t manage to get a ticket for Eden Court and can’t make it to Coronation Park on the 23rd, there is talk of him perhaps coming back for a week-long gig the next time - but don’t hold your breath, it could be a few years yet until he comes back.

Michael Bolster also reports that the Corbett Centre has been presented with a seat for outdoors in memory of David Tulloch, an attender, who died recently. His mother hopes that lots of people around the Centre will make use of the seat.