Known for frequent contributions to weekly and periodical Irish publications, he published a book of poetry in 1886.

Born in the parish of Cloone in county Leitrim, John was the son of a small farmer and Roman Catholic.

[1] An Irish cultural nationalist, McDonald contributed verse to periodicals such as "United Ireland", "Weekly News", "Young Ireland", "Weekly National Press (1891–2)",[3] and to local newspapers in county Leitrim and county Longford.

[3] McDonald's sole book, a collection of poetry titled "Irish National Poems", was published in 1886.

Writing to John Devoy in 1881, John Sexton enthused "before I ever had the pleasure of meeting Mr McDonald, I knew him through my connection with the Dublin press, as a graceful and frank writer, both in prose and verse ... indeed I am aware that he has been a tower of strength to the Land League cause in Leitrim, his native county".