Francis Martin O'Donnell

He was born in 1954 in Dublin, Ireland, son of Patrick Denis O'Donnell, who served briefly as a United Nations military observer with UNTSO, the oldest UN peace-keeping operation in the world.[9]

Schooled in Jerusalem (Collège des Frères) and Dublin (St. Vincent's C.B.S., Glasnevin), he grew up largely in Fingal, and retains interests there. An honours graduate in Economics and Philosophy from the National University of Ireland at University College Dublin, O'Donnell read International Law and Diplomacy at postgraduate level in Geneva, and qualified in Disaster Management at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[10] In the summer of 1997, he was the subject of a two-page feature as a successful graduate in the inaugural summer 1997 issue of "UCD Connections" (University College Dublin, his alma-mater), and more recently in the CoRD magazine in Belgrade.

Since 1976, when he started as a United Nations Volunteer in Sudan, he has also served the UN in Lesotho, Mauritania, Niger, Switzerland, Turkey, the United States of America, and recently in Serbia & Montenegro. He also undertook missions in over 40 other countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe, North America, and the Caribbean.[11]

At the end of the Cold War, he was requested in late 1991 to launch a rapid response capability for deploying UN Volunteers (UNV) to UN emergency operations worldwide. He overhauled recruitment methods, and oversaw the rapid deployment of thousands of UN volunteers to crisis zones,[12] where they became the front-line link between relief and aid delivery agencies such as UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP, UNDP, and WHO and suffering war victims, refugees and internal displacees. The effort saved lives during the years 1992–1994 in Afghanistan, Angola, Bosnia, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and other war-torn countries during the inter-ethnic wars that succeeded the Cold War's proxy conflicts.[13] True life stories from the field featured in Volunteers Against Conflict, a book praised by former presidents Nelson Mandela, Mary Robinson, Jimmy Carter, and Nobel Peace Laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum. This book was written by volunteers recruited under O'Donnell's leadership of the Humanitarian Relief Unit of UNV.[14]

Boutros-Ghali & O'Donnell, Ankara, end-May 1996

Later based in Turkey, he helped assure the humanitarian corridor through Turkey into northern Iraq after the first Gulf War from 1994–1996, and coordinated earthquake relief in Turkey itself.[15] Subsequently, he held a senior emergency management role in UNDP headquarters in New York, and later led a systemic governance team for crisis countries, developing a new policy approach to tackle root causes for preventing crisis in vulnerable countries.[16]

In 2000, he led UN/UNDP missions that helped the late Sergio Vieira de Mello lay the foundations for public administration capacity in East Timor before independence. He organised a workshop with the Timorese leadership on 1 March 2000, that re-designed the UN administration in East Timor, leading to a reform of the UN mission by the Security Council.[17] O'Donnell organised the joint workshop between UNTAET and the Timorese leadership, the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT), on 1 March 2000 to tease out a new strategy, and identify institutional needs. The Timorese delegation was led by Jose Ramos Horta. The outcome was an agreed blueprint for a joint administration with executive powers, including leaders of the CNRT. The effort was the "two-day retreat" described in Samantha Power's 2008 biography of Sergio, "Chasing the Flame".[18] Further details were worked out in a conference in May 2000. The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in East Timor, Sérgio Vieira de Mello, presented the new blueprint to a donor conference in Lisbon,[19] on 22 June 2000, and to the UN Security Council on 27 June 2000.[20] On 12 July 2000, the NCC adopted a regulation establishing a Transitional Cabinet composed of four East Timorese and four UNTAET representatives.[21] The revamped joint administration constructed the institutional foundations for independence[.[22] On 27 September 2002 East Timor joined the United Nations.

On 13 October 2000, O'Donnell arrived in Belgrade[23] in the immediate aftermath of the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević. There, as UNDP representative, he supported the new democratic forces in bringing stability to the remnant of the former Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), preventing nascent conflict with marginalised ethnic Albanians in the Preševo Valley of southern Serbia, launching reintegration programmes, promoting human rights, and supporting reform of governance institutions,[24][25][26] and supporting civil society.[27] In 2002, he was appointed by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as Resident Coordinator[28] of the UN system, and appointed by UNDP Administrator Mark Malloch Brown as Resident Representative of the UNDP[29] in Yugoslavia/Serbia-Montenegro, and later again in Ukraine in October 2004, just before the so-called Orange Revolution. Following the Belgrade Agreement (2002) brokered by Javier Solana that restructured the remnant federal republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) into a looser state union of Serbia and Montenegro, O'Donnell held consultations with the president of the federal government of Yugoslavia and leaders of the republics of Serbia and Montenegro, and organised a Strategic Roundtable on Governance Transition in Belgrade, featuring most of the signatories of the Belgrade Agreement, international experts on transition, and a large representation of government officials and the international community.[30] It was the first major public forum bringing together important political players to air crucial constitutional issues.[31] He also contributed to housing sector policy in south-east Europe.[32]

He presented his credentials to the President of Ukraine on 16 November 2004. As Resident Coordinator, he was the designated representative of the UN Secretary-General and lead the UN Country Team of UN agencies[33] and related bodies and was primus inter pares amongst several such accredited UN system chefs de mission diplomatique.[34] Following the Orange Revolution, he fostered international support to the reform process under the auspices of UNDP through its Blue Ribbon Commission for Ukraine.[35] The 2007 Ukrainian political crisis, which lasted from April to June 2007 was part of political stand off between coalition and opposition factions of Verkhovna Rada that led to the unscheduled 2007 Ukrainian parliamentary election, and started on 2 April 2007 as a culmination of long lasting crisis and degradation of the parliamentary coalition when the President of Ukraine (Viktor Yushchenko) attempted to dissolve the parliament. The following day, in light of impending political unrest, O'Donnell as United Nations Resident Coordinator, and following an earlier call to deepen democracy and liberalise the economy,[36] exceptionally issued an advisory statement of principles on behalf of the Country Team[37] (followed by a visit by former Estonian President Arnold Rüütel on 23 April.[38]

O'Donnell called for greater awareness of the Holocaust[39] and active tolerance and decried discrimination against Jews,[40] Muslims, migrants and minorities in many countries.[41] He was also instrumental in tackling racism and xenophobia in Ukraine, by taking the leadership in organising regular consultations and meetings with the representatives of diplomatic missions and international organisations and jointly bringing this issue to the attention of Government.[42] An ambassadorial working group was formed[43] and a Diversity Initiative, a co-ordination group under the leadership of the IOM and UNHCR, was established to provide a forum for anti-discrimination policies – with the overall objective to create a consolidated response to racism and xenophobia in Ukraine. As a result of concerted efforts, the Government stepped up its response to this challenge; an official repudiation of racism by President Viktor Yuschenko issued; the Government adopted an Action Plan on Counteraction to Racism; and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) established a special unit to counteract xenophobia and intolerance.[44] Policy advice was provided and best practices from European countries was shared with Government. There was a wide-scale information campaign, including broadcasting of public service announcements.[45]

Simultaneously serving as UNDP resident representative in Ukraine, O'Donnell also oversaw the establishment and implementation of the large EU Border Assistance Mission between Moldova and Ukraine, which brought about substantial improvements in border management, including a curtailing of human trafficking, illicit weapons and other contraband smuggling, and corruption.[46] The EUBAM mission remains implemented by UNDP and funded by the European Commission. He also coordinated UNDP co-operation under the BUMAD programme with Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus, to reduce illicit drug traffic.[47] O'Donnell drew attention to the negative impact of endemic corruption in Ukraine, on co-operation with its development partners.[48] He also launched a major programme for women's and children's rights, in collaboration with the EC, Council of Europe, and ILO.[49]

The First Lady of Ukraine, Kateryna Yushchenko, in her farewell,[50] thanked Mr. O'Donnell for his work in Ukraine and co-operation with her Ukraine 3000 Foundation. She credited him that UN institutions repeatedly rendered support to the Foundation's initiatives related to education and culture. Also in 2007, the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation joined the United Nations Global Compact.

On completion of O'Donnell's three years' mission as Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the Slovakia, the Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Miroslav Lajčák emphasised Ambassador O'Donnell's special contribution to developing bilateral relations and appreciated the charitable and social activities of the Volunteers Corps of Order of Malta in the Slovak Republic in favour of endangered and marginalised groups of people. Under O'Donnell's leadership, the Volunteers Corps of Order of Malta expanded its activities country-wide in favour of children in orphanages, single and abused mothers, homeless people and other people living below the poverty line, and it also supports the modernisation of health-care facilities, as well as projects focused on the integration of children of Romani people.[4] O'Donnell was awarded the Golden Medal of the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic by Deputy Prime Minister Lajčák on 1 March 2013. The award was made in recognition of his personal contribution to the development of relations between the Slovak Republic and the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta.

O'Donnell served as a director and board member of Clans of Ireland, the independent permanent authority established in 1989 to authenticate and register Irish Clans and historical families, under the patronage of the President of Ireland, and also served on the Council of its Order of Merit, latterly as its Chancellor, until the completion of his term in April 2015. As delegate of the Clan O'Donnell of Tyrconnell, he represented his Clan in 2012, 2013 and 2014 in the annual Parade of Clans at the Mansion House, Dublin. He was a keynote speaker at the O'Donnell Clan Gathering of 5–9 August 2013 in Donegal, and presented research on the topic of the Ardfert expedition of 1601, as well as on a branch of O'Donnells who were Counts in France until extinct in 1879. In May 2013, on the occasion of the repatriation of the remains of the last reigning royal family of Yugoslavia, accorded a State Funeral by Serbia, O'Donnell laid a wreath at the cask of the late King Peter II of Yugoslavia, in his capacity as delegate of the Clans of Ireland and on behalf of Ireland's ancient royal and noble clans and historic families[51]

After some years as a resource person/lecturer on matters of globalization, multilateralism, and governance, in October 2019, he was appointed as a director/trustee of the School of Civic Education in London . The School was originally founded as the School of Political Studies (Московская школа политических исследований)in Moscow in 1992; , which led to a proliferation of such schools across Central and Eastern Europe. These formed into an Association of Schools of Political Studies to train future generations of political, economic, social and cultural leaders in countries in transition, under the auspices of the Council of Europe, where it comes under the Education Department of the Directorate of Democratic Participation within the Directorate General of Democracy (“DGII”) of the Council of Europe.

The initiative to create an Irish-Arab Society was proposed by O'Donnell in November 1968, and taken up by a group of Irish and Arab friends.[52] It was the principal advocate of the Palestinian cause in Ireland during the 1970s and the 1980s. It played a key advisory and facilitative role in promoting Irish-Arab trade and cultural links, and with its support diplomatic relations were established with 12 states in the Middle East and North Africa between 1974 and 1976.[53]

Since the early 1990s, O'Donnell was also actively involved in promoting global peace services and inter-faith dialogue, with World Peacemakers (see ) and the United States Agency for International Development, Global Alliance of Peace Services, the Life and Peace Institute (see ), the Swedish Christian Council, Pax Christi,[54] International Alert, and others. O’Donnell has been active as an advisor to the NGO consortium Nonviolent Peaceforce (Brussels), and as strategic advisor to the Global Partnerships Forum (New York City). O’Donnell remains a life member of the Institute of International and European Affairs (Dublin), and has also participated in the work of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center (Azerbaijan). He has also attended the philanthropy roundtable of the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2009.

At the invitation of the Irish Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Foreign Minister in early 1995, he contributed towards the first White Paper on Irish Foreign Policy (see ). His monograph is lodged in the National Archives of Ireland, and acknowledged in the published White Paper (1996). He is member of the Institute of International and European Affairs (see ).

He has addressed public and expert audiences, and delivered keynote addresses at several international conferences. He delivered an address (see ) to the XXII International Congress on the Family in Kiev, Ukraine (see ), and more recently was guest speaker at the Conference for Young Christian Professionals held in Rome on 28–30 November 2008, where he addressed the subject of Leadership Challenges in the Service of Society.[55] The conference was targeted at "socially active young people, those who are not afraid to discuss the challenges and problems of modern life and who would like to find solutions in the spirit of Pope John Paul II's call to 'build a civilisation of love', i.e. young people between the ages of 25–35, in particular the peers of the pontificate of Pope John Paul II." Several of his papers have been published and he contributed chapters to several published works on peace and governance issues.[56]

In 2014, he also actively advocated for Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity following Russia's annexation of Crimea, and addressed the Irish Oireachtas parliamentary Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade on 9 April 2014 on "The Current Situation in Ukraine", in Leinster House, Dublin . He called for a robust and coordinated international response on Irish radio programmes: TodayFM, in English; Raidió na Gaeltachta, the national radio station in the Irish language , and on RTÉ 1 , as well as on Serbian TV, RTS . His letter on the crisis was published by the Financial Times on 17–18 April 2014,to coincide with the "Quad" talks (EU, US, Russia, & Ukraine) in Geneva .

O'Donnell participated on 27–29 April 2015 in the 3rd Global Baku Forum on 2–29 April 2015 hosted by the Nizami Ganjavi International Centre in Azerbaijan. The Forum was an informal summit on "Building Trust in the Emerging World Order" attended by over 60 influential current and former heads of states and governments, and about another 140 politicians and prominent global public figures.[57]

He also participated in the 4th Global Baku Forum on 10–11 March 2016[58], moderating a panel discussion on Ukraine,[59] and comprising Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, President of Latvia (1999–2007), Co-Chair of NGIC and President of the Club of Madrid; Viktor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine (2005–2010); Bronisław Komorowski, President of Poland (2010–2015)[60] ; Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland (1997–2008); Viktor Zubkov, Prime Minister of Russia (2007–2008) currently chairman of Gazprom; and Daniel Ioniță, State Secretary for Strategic Affairs, Romania ,[61];[62];[63] ;[64] .

He also participated in the VIII High-Level Meeting in Andorra la Vella, 12–14 June 2016, and moderated two of the four panels of current/former Heads of State/Government and other eminent global leaders[65]. These were: (a) the panel on "Re-thinking Globalisation" comprised Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, Prime Minister of Somalia (2013–2014); Amre Moussa, Secretary-General of the Arab League (2001–2011); Ana Blazeska, State Secretary for European Affairs, Republic of Macedonia; Ismail Serageldin, Director, Library of Alexandria (Egypt), and former Vice President of the World Bank; Iveta Radicova, Prime Minister of Slovakia (2010–2012); Manuel Montobbio, Ambassador of Spain to Andorra; and Zlatko Lagumdzija, Prime Minister of Bosnia-Hercegovina (2001–2002); and the panel on "The Trump Effect", comprising Boris Tadić, President of Serbia (2004–2012); Eka Tkeshelashvili, Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia (2010–2012), Kateryna Yushchenko, First Lady of Ukraine (2005–2010), and Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of Latvia (1999–2007) and current President of the Club de Madrid[66].

At the IX High-Level Meeting in Sarajevo, 22–23 November 2016, on "The European Peace: What is the Recipe for a Strong Union for All", he participated in the Panel on "Getting Multiculturalism in Europe Back on Track", moderated by Dr. Franco Frattini, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy (2002–2004), along with Emil Constantinescu, President of Romania (1996–2000), Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Farida Allaghi, Libya's Ambassador to the European Union, and Ambassador Jakob Finci, Head of the Jewish Community in Bosnia-Hercegovina .

At the 5th Global Baku Forum in March 2017: he participated in a panel on "Extremism and populism as threats to international security" moderated by Kateryna Yushchenko, First Lady of Ukraine (2005–2010), and including Emil Constantinescu, President of Romania (1996–2000); Laimdota Straujuma, Prime Minister of Latvia (2014–2016); Hikmet Çetin, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey (1978–1979, 1995) and Speaker (1997–1999), Foreign Minister (1991–1994); Scilla Elworthy, founder of the Oxford Research Group; Alexander Likhotal, former President of Green Cross International; and Farida Allaghi.

Later in that year, on 20 November 2017, he moderated an international forum panel discussion in Brussels on "The Threats of Separatism to International Peace and Security" , comprising Victor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine (2005–2010) and former Governor of its National Bank; Dalia Itzik, President of Israel (2007, ad interim) & Speaker of the Knesset (2006), former Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem; Prof. Hasan Muratović, Prime Minister of Bosnia & Hercegovina (1996–1997), and former university rector; Dumitru Braghiș, Prime Minister of Moldova (1999–2001); Robert Ilatov, Member of the Knesset for the Yisrael Beiteinu Party; Nazim Ibrahimov, Minister/Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, Azerbaijan; Jesús López-Medel Báscones, Former Chairperson of the Committee of Human Rights and Democracy of the OSCE; and Ali Hasanov, Public and Political Issues Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan. Later that day, O’Donnell participated in a panel on Cybersecurity in European Politics, along with former President of Ukraine, Victor Yushchenko (2005–2010) on 20 November in the European Horizons' Youth Summit 2017 in the College of Europe in Bruges .

At the 6th Global Baku Forum, 14–17 March 2018, he moderated the panel on "The Religious and Cultural Divide: What role for Political Leadership?" . The panel consisted of Fernando Lugo, President of Paraguay (2008–2012); Ali Ahmadov, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan; Akramsho Felaliev, Vice Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Tajikistan; Hikmet Çetin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey (1991–1994); Ambassador Antonio Zanardi Landi, former Diplomatic Advisor to the President of Italy and current Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the Holy See; Maksatbek Toktomushev, Grand Mufti of the Kyrgyz Republic, and Hamad Amar, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset in Israel. He has also participated in the 7th Global Baku Forum, 14–16 March 2019.

He also presented a paper on Brexit "Parturition beyond Partition" to an expert panel and the plenary meeting of the InterAction Council's 34th Annual Plenary Meeting on 30 May-1 June 2017 in Dublin , co-chaired by Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland, (1997–2008) and Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria (1999–2007), and has also participated in other IAC high-level expert meetings on social inclusion and migrants and refugees (Limassol, Cyprus, March 2019)[67][68]

He delivered a talk on ″Globalisation and Multilateralism″ to seminars on Civic Education for a Society of Citizens, under the auspices of the Association of Schools of Political Studies of the Council of Europe, in Helsinki, Finland, 12 March 2018, co-sponsored by the Council of Europe, Finland (MFA) and the UK ([Foreign and Commonwealth Office]), and in Riga, Latvia 17–21 March 2019, hosted by the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga in collaboration with the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics. He addressed the subject of globalisation again under the theme ″In the Search of Lost Universalism″ at the Berlin Forum 2018, under the auspices of Association of Schools of Political Studies of the Council of Europe and hosted by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Berlin, 26–27 November 2018[69] Address in Panel IV . He also presented reflections on Multilateralism and the Future of Global Governance, in a conference presentation, for the subsequent 6th International Berlin Forum In Search of Lost Universalism, held by Zoom online, on 21 November 2020 by the Association of Schools of Political Studies of the Council of Europe in collaboration again with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.. He lectured on "The Ecology of Multilateralism" at the Segovia Seminar of the Association of Schools of Political Studies of the Council of Europe, held in Spain on 26-29 May 2019 .

Alarmed that the United Nations Security Council has not been able to reach agreement on a draft resolution put before it on COVID-19, O'Donnell is one of the signatories of the global appeal by world leaders to "Support the UN Secretary-General’s Urgent Call for an Immediate Global Ceasefire amid the COVID-19 Pandemic". The appeal calls "to put armed conflict on lockdown and to come together to focus on the true fight of our lifetime".[70]

During the Coronavirus pandemic, O'Donnell participated in a panel on "Leadership Challenges in Post-COVID19 Recovery" (online Zoom conference, 24 July 2020) moderated by Rovshan Muradov, Secretary-General of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, and with participation of: Shaukat Aziz, Prime Minister of Pakistan 2004-2007; Moussa Mara, Prime Minister of Mali (2014-2015); Djoomart Otorbaev, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan (2014-2015). On 22 September 2020 he participated a further panel hosted by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, and billed as part of an exclusive high-level side event to United Nations General Assembly, on "The Changing World Order & Its Implications for Multilateralism", with particular reference in this case to the Coronavirus pandemic and its consequences, and moderated by Ismail Serageldin, Vice President, World Bank 1992-2000, Co-Chair Nizami Ganjavi International Center; with Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize recipient 2006; Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations 2007 - 2015; Jerome Glenn, Co-founder and CEO of The Millennium Project; Yves Leterme, Prime Minister of Belgium 2008 & 2009-2011; and Petre Roman, Prime Minister of Romania 1989-1991 . He was also a panel member at the online Conference "The UN at 75: Still fit for today's security challenges?" (Zoom , 11 November 2020) moderated by Zlatko Lagumdzija, former Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and with the participation of: Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, former President of Mauritius; Valdis Zatlers, former President of Latvia; Abdulaziz Altwaijri, former Director General of ISESCO; Moushira Khattab, former Minister of Family and Population of Egypt; and Rovshan Muradov, Secretary General of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center .

O'Donnell appeared in the past on national TV and radio programmes in several developing countries and in France, Italy, Turkey, as well as on Irish RTÉ, UK Radio-4 (see ), KRTV (see ) and FOX NEWS (US) (see ), and on the BBC and CNN, Serbian and Montenegrin TV channels (RTS, B92, Beta), and Ukrainian and Azeribaijani TV channels as well as in various print media .

Based on his original research into various subjects, several of his articles on historical matters have been published in scholarly journals in Ireland, such as The Irish Sword – Journal of the Military History Society of Ireland, and the Journal of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society, and on the academic networking site Academia.edu.

His analysis of the historical evolution of the law affecting incorporeal hereditaments as elements of intangible cultural heritage (see ) has also been acknowledged by the Irish Law Reform Commission during its consideration of the repeal of 150 statutes going back to 1285 (see ). Since 2006, the consequent Bill on Land Reform & Conveyancing has progressed in the Oireachtas, and been adopted into law, as the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act, Number 27 of 2009. He retains incorporeal hereditaments from his late father.[71]

O’Donnell also addressed the 2nd International Colloquium on Nobility[72], hosted in Madrid by the Real Asociación de Hidalgos de España, 21 October 2017, on the subject of "Irish Nobility and Armigerous Families" and also advocated for participating organisations to register their heraldic and nobiliary traditions under UNESCO's 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.[73][74][75][76][77]

In 2018, Academica Press published his book The O’Donnells of Tyrconnell – A Hidden Legacy, to acclaim of several Irish historians and genealogists. Based on this, he delivered a seminar in French on 17 October 2018 at the Sorbonne University in Paris. The seminar dealt with the contribution of genealogical research to cultural history in a series directed by Professor Eric Mension-Rigau . His subject dealt with The O'Donnell Counts in France and their transition from ancient chivalry and military service to the highest echelons of the civil service, the Conseil d'Etat. He gave a talk on the same subject on 9 November 2018 to the Military History Society of Ireland.[78] On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Austro-Irish Society, hosted by the Irish Embassy, in Vienna, he gave a talk on his book The O’Donnells of Tyrconnell - A Hidden Legacy on 16 May 2019, and to the book club of the French Association Belgrade Accueil, Belgrade, 15 October 2020 .

• Meeting the Humanitarian Challenge – Between Conflict and Development, foreword by Brenda McSweeney, Executive Coordinator (edited by Maria Keating); 43-page booklet published by United Nations Volunteers, Geneva, 1995.
• Third Party Civilian Peace Processes in Conflict Situations, second chapter (pp. 11–24) in Civil Intervention – The Role of NGOs in Conflict Prevention, published by Pax Christi International, Brussels, 1995.
• International Cooperation for Drug Control, article published in Turkish Daily News, Ankara, 30 June 1995.
• Tolerance: Respecting Diversity in a Complex World, pp. 25–38, second chapter of 258-page book Uluslararasi Hosgoru Kongresi – International Congress on Tolerance BILDIRILER published by Ministry of Culture, Turkey, in November 1995. OCLC 37805997.
• Tomorrow's Turkey Today – The Ankara Roundtable on Human Sustainability, (163 pages), contribution in pp. 119–122 on the linkage between global governance and local environmental management, published by Indigenous Development International, Cambridge, UK, in 1996 (ISBN 1-900164-01-9).
• Some Foreign Policy Options for Ireland (40-page monograph submitted by invitation for consideration by the Government of Ireland in the preparation of a White Paper on Foreign Policy presented to Dáil, Irish Parliament in 1996), Ankara, May 1995. The monograph has been subsequently lodged by the Government of Ireland in the National Archives.
• A Day in the Life, published in UCD Connections, worldwide magazine of University College Dublin Alumni, inaugural issue no.1 (ISSN 0791-8747), Dublin, Spring/Summer 1997.
• Wealth of Dignity, Poverty of Destiny – article published in O'Domhnaill Abu, Newsletter no. 32, Summer 2004 of the Clan Association of the O'Donnells of Tyrconnell (ISSN 0790-7389).
• Global Stability through Multilateralism – Why a strong United Nations is essential to defend freedom and ensure prosperity, published (pp 11–15 in Ukrainian, and 16–19 in English) in Memory of Centuries: Ukraine in the UN – 60th anniversary, published by the General Directorate for Rendering Services to the Diplomatic Missions [chief editor: Stanislav Nikolayenko], issue no.5 (56) 2005.
• The Chevalier Michel O’Donnell (1730–1807) – a Wild Goose from Mullet, published in The Irish Sword, vol. XXX, no. 119, journal of the Military History Society of Ireland, Summer 2015 (pp 71–78; preview: ).
• The Kerry Days of the Knights of Hospitaller, published in the Journal of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society, Series 2, Volume 15, Tralee, 2015 (Preview:).
• Martyrs for Europe, published on www.academia.edu on 10 September 2015.
• A personal reflection on St. Patrick’s Day and the meaning of life, published on www.academia.edu on 17 March 2016 .
• Parturition beyond Partition, published on www.academia.edu on 2 April 2017, and presented to the 34th Annual Plenary Meeting of the InterAction Council .
• St. Columba (521–597 A.D.), published on www.academia.edu on 24 May 2017 .
• Princes of the O'Donnells – Some Portraits of the Baronets O'Donnell of Newport, published on www.academia.edu on 27 September 2017.
• Sir Desmond Lorenz de Silva, QC (1939-2018) - A posthumous appreciation, published on www academia.edu, June 2018
• Une famille partie avec les « Oies Sauvages » oubliée - Les comtes O’Donnell en France, ou le passage de l’ancienne chevalerie militaire à la haute fonction publique, published on www.academia.edu, Sorbonne, October 2018
• The O’Donnells of Tyrconnell – A Hidden Legacy, published by Academica Press LLC in London and Washington, D.C., 2018, (750 pages), endorsed by several historians and genealogists (ISBN 978-1-680534740). .
• Globalisation and Multilateralism, based on his guest lectures in Helsinki and Berlin under the auspices of the Association of Schools of Political Studies of the Council of Europe, and published (in Russian language) by the Moscow School of Civic Education in its quarterly journal, Obschaya Tetrad, no. 3-4 (75), Moscow, 2018 (ISBN 978-5-93895-120-4) (pp. 34–51) Глобализация и общество - (Globalization and Society) [in Russian], published in "Общая тетрадь" (Bulletin of the School of Civic Education, Moscow,2018
• Irish Nobility and Armigerous Families, his chapter in Actas – Il Coloquio Internacional Sobre La Nobleza (2nd International Colloquium on Nobility, Madrid 20-21 October 2017), published by the Real Asociación de Hidalgos de España, Madrid, 2019 (paperback, ISBN 978-84-948410-5-7).
• The Ghost of Ballyheigue Castle, published on www.academia.edu, 2019
• An Irish Princess in Exile, published on www.academia.edu, 2019
• Early radical action required to fight Coronavirus COVID-19, published on www.academia.edu, March 2020
• The Very Rev. Fr. Thomas O’Donnell, C.M. (1864-1949), President of All Hallows College – A Biographical Sketch, published on www.academic.edu, April 2020
• Coronavirus and UN Reform, an article in How do we lead in an uncertain world? in the special edition of Global Policy Analysis, the flagship journal of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, Baku, April 2020
• Coronavirus - An Opportunity for Global Governance Reform, an article published in Metropole, Austria’s English language magazine, Vienna, 4 April 2020
• How to make the 5th of April a meaningful International Day of Conscience (in Russian), published by the School of Civic Education, under the auspices of the Association of Schools of Political Studies of the Council of Europe
• The O’Donnells of Tyrconnell – A Hidden Legacy: a note on the research behind my book, article in the annual Journal, Volume 21, 2020, published by the Genealogical Society of Ireland, Dún Laoghaire (ISSN 2712-0228) [www.familyhistory.ie].
• The Cholera Pandemic of the 1830s, the Code Vicinal and modernization in France, published on www.academia.edu, May 2020
• Red Hugh O’Donnell – Further background on the search for his remains, published on www.academia.edu, May 2020
• The Burial Place of Red Hugh O’Donnell in the Convent of Saint Francis in Valladolid, published on www.academia.edu, June 2020
• The Church and the United Nations in 2020 - Reflections, published on www.academia.edu, June 2020
• Donegal Abbey as a mausoleum for the return of the remains of Red Hugh O’Donnell, Sovereign of Tyrconnell, published on www.academia.edu, June 2020
• The O’Donnell Dynasty and Donegal Abbey, published on www.academia.edu, June 2020
• How to Honour the Heritage of Red Hugh O’Donnell, front cover lead story, Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette, Vol. 1, No.6, Genealogical Society of Ireland, June 2020 [ISSN 1649-7937
• Leadership Challenges in Post-COVID-19 Recovery, published on www.academia.edu, July 2020 . Also published by the Association of Schools of Political Studies of the Council of Europe, in Russian as Вызовы для лидерства в эпоху восстановления после кризиса COVID-19, in Sapere Aude online - ;
• What did they really look like? An Iconography of the O’Donnells of Tyrconnell: myth, allegory, prejudice and evidence, published on www.academia.edu, August 2020
• Missing in Action: The Real America, published on www.academia.edu, October 2020
• Brexit Endgame – the UK’s Identity Crisis (A reflection re-visited), published on www.academia.edu, December 2020
• Multilateralism and the Future of Global Governance, conference presentation, 6th International Berlin Forum In Search of Lost Universalism, Zoom online, 21 November 2020; Conference paper published on www.academia.edu , and Russian summary - Как реформировать ООН и вернуть мир к многосторонности?, published by the Association of Schools of Political Studies in Sapere Aude online - ; video link:

• The Concept and Promotion of Global Peace Service, paper presented as invited Guest Speaker at the "Global Peace Service" Conference at the Church Center for the United Nations, U.N. Plaza, New York, November 1993.
• Humanitarian Access and the Opportunity for Building-up Peace from the Grassroots, paper presented upon invitation to international seminar on "Towards a Global Alliance of Peace Services", held by the Christian Council of Sweden, and Life & Peace Institute, at Stensnas, Stockholm, Sweden, May 1994.
• Conflict Prevention, Response, and Post-Conflict Recovery, paper presented at meeting with European Commission (DG VIII), Brussels, November 1997.
• Foundations for Governance and Public Administration in East Timor, basic framework for initial capacity building in East Timor, according to the late SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello, who endorsed and presented it to Lisbon Donors Conference, on 21 June 2000, and reported it to the UN Security Council on 27 June 2000.
• Martyrs for a European ideal: how the refugee crisis is transforming European values and outlook, published in www.academia.edu, 10 September 2015.

• Towards a Global Alliance of Peace Services, published by Life and Peace Institute, Uppsala, Sweden, 1994 (co-funded by SIDA and Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs). (one of several contributors).
• Seeds of Peace, Harvest for Life by Sr. Mary Evelyn Jegen, SND (Abbey Press, St. Meinrad, Indiana, US, 1994). O'Donnell's contributions quoted and acknowledged in Chapters 2 and 13.
• Keeping the Peace: Exploring civilian alternatives in conflict prevention (132 pages), by Lisa Schirch, published by Life & Peace Institute, Uppsala, Sweden, October 1995 (ISBN 91-87748-26-6).
• Challenges and Opportunities Abroad – The White Paper on Foreign Policy (348 pages), published by the Government of Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) in April 1996 (ISBN 0-7076-2385-5). His contribution acknowledged in list of contributors.
• Volunteers Against Conflict (ISBN 92-808-0923-7), published in 1996 by United Nations University and United Nations Volunteers, a collaborative effort with the Humanitarianism and War Project of the Thomas J. Watson Jr. Institute for International Studies, Brown University (US). The book includes firsthand accounts of UN volunteers deployed by O’Donnell in Cambodia, South Africa, Mozambique, Rwanda, ex-Yugoslavia, and Somalia. Presidents Mary Robinson (Ireland), Nelson Mandela (South Africa), and Jimmy Carter (US), all endorsed the book. Book project initiated by O’Donnell.
• Patterns of Partnership: UN Peacekeeping and Peoples' Peacebuilding by Tatsuro Kunugi, Elise Boulding, & Jan Oberg, published by The Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research, Sweden, 1996. O’Donnell's work cited.
• Governance Foundations in Post-Conflict Situations, by Rajeev Pillay, published by UNDP, New York, November 1999
• Promoting Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution through Effective Governance: A Conceptual Survey and Literature Review, by Randolph Kent, published by UNDP, New York, 1999
• Transition in Governance: The UNDP Framework and How It Is Being Made Operational, UNDP, New York, June 2000; extract published online by USAID, Washington DC, 2000
• Irishman heads UN programme in Belgrade, by Deaglán de Bréadún, Irish Times, Dublin, 13 October 2000.
• You need a Vision! H.E. Francis M. O’Donnell, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Serbia & Montenegro, interview in CorD Magazine, Issue no. 2 (pp. 44–46), published by CMA (Consulting & Marketing Agency), Belgrade, February 2004 (ISSN 1451-7833).
• Housing in South Eastern Europe - solving a puzzle of challenges; Sector note following up the Ministerial Housing Conference for South Eastern Europe (Paris, 23-24 April 2003) within the framework of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, published by the Council of Europe Development Bank and the World Bank, Paris, March 2004
• Millennium Development Goals and the Poverty Eradication Strategy in Serbia - The Thirteenth Meetings of NGOs & UNDP, published by The Chancellery of H.R.H Crown Prince Alexander II of Yugoslavia, Royal Palace, Belgrade, September 2004
• The United Nations Development Programme – A Better Way? (372 pages), by Craig N. Murphy, published by Cambridge University Press, New York/US & Cambridge/UK, 2006 (ISBN 0-521-68316-5). O'Donnell's work and influence in East Timor in early 2000, cited (page 341).
• Mary Stuart O’Donnell – An Irish Lady in Exile, by Amy Eloise Kelly, in the series History of Royal Women, published by Moniek Bloks, The Netherlands, 27-28 February 2020 .
• Book review by Caitlin Bain, & Brian Donovan, Director, Eneclann: The O’Donnells of Tyrconnell: A Hidden Legacy, review thereof published by Eneclann – The Irish Family History Centre, Dublin, 26 January 2020.
• Book review by Michael Merrigan: Celebrating Ireland in Belgrade (front cover story about the book The O’Donnells of Tyrconnell – A Hidden Legacy) published in Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette, Volume 15, no. 2, monthly newsletter of the Genealogical Society of Ireland, February 2020.
• Book review by J. Anthony Gaughan: The Astonishing History of One of Ireland’s Great Clans, published in The Irish Catholic, Dublin, 12 March 2020..
• Book review by Kenneth Ferguson, LL.B, Ph.D, Honorary Editor of The Irish Sword, the Journal of the Military History Society of Ireland, Volume XXXII, no. 129, Dublin, Summer 2020.
• Cultural Diplomacy in the Service of Serbia, by Dr. Vjera Mujović, published by the Institute for Political Studies Belgrade, 2020 (367pp) (ISBN 978-86-7419-323-5) (her doctoral dissertation of May 2019 at the Faculty of Media and Communications, Singidunum University, Belgrade, Serbia). (Др Вјера Мујовић, Културна дипломатија у служби Србије, Издавач: Институт за политичке студије Београд, Београд, 2020).

• Association of Schools of Political Studies (Council of Europe)
• Order of Malta – Slovakia
• Clans of Ireland
• Swiss TV clip, descendants commemorating Flight of the Earls; March, 2008
• Institute of European Affairs, Dublin
• Royal Family of Yugoslavia & Serbia
• UNDP in Serbia-Montenegro, Belgrade
• UNDP in Ukraine, Kiev
• United Nations Office in Serbia-Montenegro, Belgrade
• United Nations Office in Ukraine, Kiev
• United Nations Volunteers, Bonn
• USAID, Washington, D.C.
• Wilton Park Conferences, England