Ku dhammaystiro weedhan soo socda: Donovan wuxuu ku soo koray Galway wuxuuna ka qeyb qaatay isboorti dugsiga sare, isagoo inta badan ku lug lahaa kubbadda cagta Gaelic, kubbadda cagta, iyo rugby. Si kastaba ha noqotee, intii uu ku guda jiray tababarka kubbadda cagta Gaelic wuxuu helay hadiyad orod dheer. Wuxuu sameeyay kulankiisii ugu horreeyay ee caalami ah 1979 IAAF World Cross Country Championships oo lagu qabtay dhulkiisa hooyo ee Limerick, isagoo ku tartamay tartankii da'yarta wuxuuna kaalinta 54aad galay. Wuxuu ku guuleystay qaybta dhexe ee Dugsiyada Ingiriiska ee Caalamiga ah ee Iskuulka ee sannadkaas, sidoo kale wuxuu ku orday heerarka 3000 mitir ee 1979 European Athletics Junior Championships. Muuqaalkiisii ugu dambeeyay ee ciyaartoyda yar yar wuxuu ahaa orodka
1981 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, halkaas oo uu ku fiicnaaday kaalinta 18-aad wuxuuna hogaamiyay kooxda da'yarta ee Irish-ka kaalinta 8-aad ee darajaynta.