Nicknamed 'Nannie' as an endearment to her being the youngest child of the family, Ann had 3 sisters: Lizzie, Jane Catherine and Hannah Elizabeth Ellen, one brother: Charles Edward, and two half-brothers; Arthur Irwin and Robert Henry Downes, from her mother's first marriage to Robert Henry Downes Mahon.

[4] Nannie Lambert was highly trained in needlework, drawing, household work and cultural fields, such as knowledge in the classics, ability to speak multiple European languages by her twenties, as well as an education in performing as a vocalist, in the pianoforte and the harp.

Nannie never received formal horseriding lessons, but instead managed to negotiate opportunities to practice riding, borrowing saddles etc.

O’Donoghue’s professional career officially began in 1868 with the publication of her book Knave of Clubs;[4] however she didn’t achieve any significant recognition from this first novel.

[4] Her book Ladies on Horseback; Learning Park-Riding and Hunting with Hints Upon Costume and Numerous Anecdotes was reported to have sold over 94,000 copies in five languages.

[6] During its short two year life, Mrs Power-O'Donoghue wrote a column called "The Ladies' Letter" in The Jarvey, a weekly comic magazine edited by Percy French from January 1889-January 1891.

O’Donoghue continued to write professionally well into the 1920s, and her long career made her a prominent and influential figure within Irish literature.