Donnelly was part of the county management team in 2021, but had left this role by early 2022.[7]
Married to Claire, he is from Ballybofey. The couple have several children. Their third child, a daughter, died of triploid syndrome in February 2018.[6]
^ ab"Jamesie 'hurls' himself into marathon challenge". Donegal News. 15 April 2021. p. 11. Well-known Donegal hurler Jamesie Donnelly from Ballybofey will run a very personal marathon on June 5 to raise funds for a charity which supports families who have lost an infant. Jamesie and wife Claire lost their daughter Evanne a week before she was due to be born in February of 2018 to a very rare condition called Triploid Syndrome, a chromosomal disorder… 'The nurse in the hospital gently took Evanne's little body and simply took her footprints and a little lock of her hair and these were included in a memory box for us… They also brought brother and sister teddies for our two children, Ella May who is now nine and James who is seven… We now also have a six-month-old daughter, Fiadh. The year we lost Evanne was the year I retired from playing for Donegal'…
^Ferry, Ryan (3 February 2022). "Donegal hurlers step into unknown against London". Donegal News. p. 64. [Mickey] McCann is now in his fifth season with Donegal, and his trusted trainer Gabriel O'Kane, who hails from Ballinascreen in Derry, is back on board. Sean MacCumhaill's clubman Jamesie Donnelly was involved in the management team last year but has now decided to step away. Donnelly hasn't been replaced… [McCann]: 'But we have got a good backroom team there with the likes of Martin McGrath and Anthony Coyle helping out'.