O'Donel was born in
Knocklofty, County Tipperary, Ireland, into a prosperous family and received a classical
Christian education before entering the
Franciscan order. After the
Penal Laws ceased to be rigorously enforced, he travelled to Rome to study for the priesthood, becoming ordained in 1770. He later taught philosophy and theology in
Prague, and in 1777 became the Franciscan
Prior in
Waterford. Following developments in England, Catholics in
Newfoundland gradually gained religious liberty, made explicit by a public declaration by the Governor in 1784. After a request from Irish merchants there to Bishop
William Egan, O'Donel was sent to St. John's as
Prefect Apostolic the same year, largely to deal with the presence of "unlicensed" and "unruly" priests on the island. In addition to his personal popularity, one of his qualifications for the position was an ability to preach in
Irish language in Newfoundland. O'Donel found that insubordinate priests were fighting Irish battles, and set about reorganizing the
Catholic Church in Newfoundland. He built a chapel in St. John's, established parishes outside the capital, and gradually brought priests under his authority. During his first few years in post, O'Donel also found that
Catholic Emancipation was less than absolute, and in 1786 he was physically assaulted by the future
King of England,
Prince William Henry. In 1796, O'Donel was consecrated as
titular bishop of Thyatira at
Quebec on 21 September. O'Donel's ministry in Newfoundland was largely characterized by trying to maintain peace, both between fellow Catholics and with the British. In 1800, imminent plans for a
United Irishmen uprising by the soldiers in the St. John's garrison (including other ranks in the
Royal Newfoundland Regiment, the
Royal Newfoundland Fencibles and the
Royal Artillery) was prevented when a terrified O'Donel, upon hearing of the plans, alerted the authorities. The 19th-century historian
Charles Pedley alleged that O'Donel shared his information in violation of the
Seal of Confession, but credible evidence for this claim is absent. O'Donel's health deteriorated in the early 19th century, and he resigned his position in 1807 and returned to Ireland. He died of shock in
Waterford in 1811 after suffering minor injuries in a fire. ==Views==