[1][3] Whilst working with the RAF he developed his first taste for showbiz after producing a Paul Robeson show at Long Kesh, intended to entertain the military personnel.
[3] He produced The Ed Sullivan Show when it visited Ireland, insisting on the use of Irish artists, including Maureen Potter, who received a career boost from the experience.
[1] Gaels of Laughter returned to the Gaiety Theatre for a one-night tribute show to O'Donovan on 25 January 2010, with Gay Byrne as host and John McColgan as producer.
[4] On 23 January 2010, in an interview with Fiona McCann for The Irish Times, he vowed never to write a memoir, though admitted making an attempt only for former taoiseach Charles Haughey to "put me off".
[1][5] Tributes came from people including Gate Theatre director Michael Colgan, veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne, and Tom Savage, who was RTÉ Authority chairman at the time of his death.