From his early days in Letterkenny pubs to a Grand Ole Opry debut in Nashville, Donnchadh Parkinson’s music career has taken him far.
Donnchadh plays lead guitar for the Texas alt-country band The Droptines, who took to the world-famous Nashville stage last night.
For Donnchadh, who is 25, it was a major moment in an already hectic spell of touring across the United States.
He’s been with The Droptines for a year and a half, and they were on the road in Florida when the Opry invite came in just a few weeks ago, so there was little time to dwell on the significance.
Thousands of icons have graced the Opry stage, from Dolly Parton to Johnny Cash, and for Donnchadh it was extra special as he and the band made their debut during the Opry’s 100th year.
The five-piece Droptines played a set lasting over 20 minutes.
“It was over before you knew it,” said Donnchadh, who enjoyed the ease of the experience.
“The moment for me was not having to set anything up or break anything down,” he said. “Everyone does it for you. It’s an insane operation they have going.”
The Droptines making their debut at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House on 25th March
His proud parents, Michael Parkinson and Annette Darcy, had flown over to be there for the occasion.
Now that he spends most of his time on the road, it was special for Donnchadh to see his parents and be able to bring them backstage.
Donnchadh’s journey to the music capitals of the States was shaped by his teachers and family in Letterkenny.
One of his greatest influences was his Saint Eunan’s College music teacher, Paul Devenny.
“I wanted to stop music at about third year,” Donnchadh said, “Mr Devenney made me come back and do it again for the rest of my time at school. So I would have stopped it all if he didn’t encourage me to get back into this.”
He also paid tribute to Mark Black for all the after-school lessons and his cousin Dee Moore for helping shape him as a guitarist.
Guitarist Donnchadh Parkinson on tour with The Droptines
Before moving to the United States, Parkinson was part of the local music scene in Letterkenny and played in the band After 8 alongside his brother Eoin Parkinson on drums, Oisín Nee on vocals and keys, Rory Doherty on sax and Oisín Sweeney on bass.
They played pubs around the town, such as the Cottage Bar, McGinleys and the Central, and one recent moment for him brought it all home – when an American fan sent him a photograph from McGinley’s in Letterkenny.
Donnchadh has been non-stop touring for the past year, sharing the stage with major stars like Luke Combs, Whiskey Myers, Zach Top, Dylan Gossett, Dwight Yoakam and Los Lobos. The band is signed to Miranda Lambert’s Big Loud Texas.
In August last year, The Droptines played a Lollapalooza aftershow with Luke Combs, and that stands out as a career highlight for Donnchadh.
“He’s great craic,” Donnchadh said of the ‘Beautiful Crazy‘ hitmaker.
Luke Combs and Donnchadh Parkinson
The Droptines’ rise shows no sign of slowing, with the band set to release their second new album Drought Flower, next Friday.
Parkinson said the band hopes the Opry appearance will be the first of more to come.
“Oh yeah, we’ll be back,” he said. “It definitely won’t be the last time we’ll be on that list.”
Letterkenny’s Donnchadh Parkinson makes his Opry debut in Nashville was last modified: March 26th, 2026 by Rachel McLaughlin
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