They had four daughters, including the novelist Margaret Mazzantini and the actress Giselda Volodi.
[1] The whole family spent time travelling in France, Spain, Ireland and Morocco through the late 50s and early 60s.
[1] Donnelly has exhibited since the 50s in public and private collections throughout Ireland, Italy, Great Britain, France, Spain, Greece, Argentina, Switzerland, USA and Australia.
She has received praise from critics such as Elena Pontiggia, Seamus Heaney, Guido Giuffrè, and Paul Cahill.
[1] Exhibitions include : 2007 Riflessi Diversi: Artist and Irish poets, in Torre di Magione, 2008 Equus, semper.