Career
On his first day in the Dáil, O'Donovan was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Government. He lost his seat at the 1957 general election, but was elected to Seanad Éireann by the Cultural and Educational Panel, where he served until 1961. He was unsuccessful candidate at the 1961 and 1965 general elections.
Following the 1969 general election O'Donovan returned to the Dáil as a Labour Party deputy for Dublin South–Central. O'Donovan lost his seat again at the 1973 general election.