Just a few snapshots Click here to listen to
"Totus Tuus"
Listen to Dana and Fr. Harold Cohen in "A Closer
Walk" TV series in Realaudio. |
 In the first weeks of January 1980, Dana’s song "Totus Tuus" was still at the number one slot in Ireland and won an silver disc for 25,000 sales. Now the whole idea of a Christian album was becoming possible. They found out in the summer of that year,that Dana was pregnant with their first child. They prayed everyday for the Lord would protect their child and for it to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Words came naturally for the song "Little Baby."
Further record singles successes followed with "Dream Lover," "I Feel Love Coming On," "You Never Gave Me Your Love," "Little Things Mean A Lot," and albums such as, "If I Give My Heart To You," "Let There Be Light," " and "Dana’s Ireland." During this time, Dana had also had songs featured on many compilation Albums. In November 1985, Dana broke new ground in her career when her first book "Dana - An Autobiography" was published by Hodder & Stoughton.
Through a Charismatic Renewal conference in New Orleans, Dana made friends with Sister Bridge Mckenna, a internationally renown speaker on Healing, who in-turn introduced her the Father Harold Cohen. Father Cohen was producing a new religious television series and asked Dana to record some Christian music for him. Dana sang the theme song for "A Closer Walk" and appeared on the series performing two of her own songs. The American audience loved Dana. The show was shown on Eternal Word Television Network, a Catholic network that had just launched into a 24 hour time slot. During Pope John Paul II's 1987 visit to the United States, Dana was invited to sing "Totus Tuus" at a Youth Rally held in the New Orleans Superdome. "About 80,000 young people gathered to meet him, and I had been allocated a whole half hour with them before his arrival to teach them my song and share my faith.......Around the stadium the young people were on their feet, cheering and singing and there was a tremendous sense of unity and love. At last the Pope rose to give the final blessing and his closing word repeated the challange to say yes to God, for only in laying down our lives for him, promised the Pope, would we find real freedom. Then suddenly I relized he was stepping down from his stage and coming to take my hand. It was a gesture of much grace and humility, and I was deeply moved."
At this time, Dana and Damien decided it was time to move to the United States. Dana’s sister, Susan had moved to the U.S. after her marriage to an American serviceman, and had been begging them to move for years. Damien was offered and accepted a job at EWTN. They also together joined Society for the Protection Of the Unborn Child (SPUC). "It's a cause close to our hearts, feeling as we do that children are a gift from God, as is life itself. We feel that society has a duty to defend it's most defenseless member, the unborn, remembering always that there are two victims of abortion. My work gives me a platform from with I can voice the protest against this inhumanity to man, and although I am not a political person I an not afraid to use my position to oppose moral and spiritual violations of God's law." In 1988, 1989, and 1991 Dana appeaed in the Children's "Royal Variety Show," and became a headlining star of concerts, cabaret and pantomimes, culminating in a successful Christmas Season London West End run of ''Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs." UK Summer season, too, has played an important part in Dana's career and she has enjoyed success at major holiday centres throughout England. |
