Sinead O’Connor death – latest: Tributes pour in for ‘fearless and uncompromising’ Irish singer
Irish musician Sinéad O’Connor has died at the age of 56.
O’Connor’s death was confirmed by her family in a statement provided to BBC News.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad,” it read. “Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
No cause of death has been disclosed.
The Dublin-born singer-songwriter’s death comes a year after the death by suicide of her 17-year-old son Shane.
Throughout her life, O’Connor was known for her political activism and personal candour, as well as a string of acclaimed albums.
To many, she was most famed for her hit cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U”, written by the musician and producer Prince, which featured on her 1990 album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got.
O’Connor changed her name to Shuhada’ Sadaqat in 2018 after converting to Islam, but continued to work and perform under her birth name.
Tributes to the artist have already begun pouring in on social media – see below.
Key points
O’Connor’s family confirm news of her death in a statement
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar pays tribute to O’Connor on social media
The day Sinead O’Connor tore up a photo of the Pope on Saturday Night Live
Artists, comedians and musicians pay homage to the late Dublin-born singer
Sinead O’Connor, the Irish artist who put her pain, and the pain of others, into song
04:00 , Inga Parkel
Read Helen Brown’s beautiful tribute to the “complicated and brilliant” Sinead O’Connor for The Independent.
Sinead O’Connor, the Irish artist who put her pain, and the pain of others, into song
O’Connor shot to fame in 1990 with her cover of Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’, confronting the nation with all her trauma and vulnerability. Helen Brown pays tribute to a complicated, brilliant artist
03:00 , Inga Parkel
02:30 , Inga Parkel
The Independent’s own Roisin O’Connor shares her personal connection to Sinead O’Connor in a lovely tribute.
02:00 , Inga Parkel
Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor pays homage to an “artist with the voice of an Angel”.
“I have lost a friend. Sinead’s music will live on and continue to inspire! Rest In Peace, Sinead you are home with your son I am sure,” he tweeted.
The world has lost an artist with the voice of an Angel. Ireland has lost an iconic voice and one of our absolute finest, by a long shot. And I have lost a friend. Sinead’s music will live on and continue to inspire! Rest In Peace, Sinead you are home with your son I am sure ❤️🙏 pic.twitter.com/9hvpwxuUyP
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 26, 2023
01:30 , Inga Parkel
‘Her talent was unmatched’: The world pays tribute to Sinead O’Connor
Irish musician is being remembered for her music, which ‘was loved around the world’, for her punk spirit, and for her campaigning for women’s rights
‘Nothing Compares 2 U’: How Sinead O’Connor turned Prince’s song into a classic
01:00 , Inga Parkel
The music world was rocked on Wednesday (26 July) by the news that Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor has died at the age of 56.
While many are paying homage to O’Connor’s expansive musical and political legacy, others are remembering the singer for her 1990 cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U”.
Read more:
‘Nothing Compares 2 U’: How Sinead O’Connor turned Prince’s song into a classic
Dublin-born singer shot to fame with her cover of a previously forgotten Prince song
00:30 , Inga Parkel
Author Marian Keyes found the news “heartbreaking”. “How she suffered. Poor, poor Sinead. Rest in peace, you amazing, brave, beautiful, unique wonder,” she wrote.
Oh lord, this is heartbreaking 💔 How she suffered. Poor, poor Sinead. Rest in peace, you amazing, brave, beautiful, unique wonder 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚 https://t.co/X6cxdSR74R
— Marian Keyes (@MarianKeyes) July 26, 2023
00:00 , Inga Parkel
This is an in depth look at one of O’Connor’s most famous moments, when she tore up a photograph of the Pope on live TV to take a stance against paedophilia in the church.
A brave, singular force in the world of music.
The day Sinéad O’Connor tore up a photo of the Pope on Saturday Night Live
Thirty years ago, a young Sinéad O’Connor shocked America with her political protest on ‘Saturday Night Live’. She was promptly banned for life by broadcaster NBC, pelted with eggs in the street and booed during live shows. Ed Power reflects on the impact of that night and the contrasting reactions in the US and Ireland
Sinead O’Connor, the chart-topping singer who courted controversy
23:30 , Inga Parkel
Sinead O’Connor, the chart-topping singer who courted controversy
The star is best known for her 1990 smash hit, ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’
Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar has shared a tribute to O’Connor
23:00 , Inga Parkel
“Her music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare,” wrote the Irish leader.
Really sorry to hear of the passing of Sinéad O’Connor.
Her music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare.
Condolences to her family, her friends and all who loved her music.
Ar dheis Dé go Raibh a hAnam. https://t.co/JVHxz7Kv2Z— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) July 26, 2023
22:30 , Inga Parkel
In July 1990, Sinead O’Connor joined Roger Waters and other fellow artists to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Watch a snippet of their historic performance below.
RIP #SineadOConnor
On July 21, 1990, in Berlin, Rick, Levon Helm and Garth Hudson joined Roger Waters for the concert The Wall, commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall. They performed Mother, along with Sinéad O'Connor. pic.twitter.com/imp2PsFbCw— Rick Danko Page (@rickdankopage) July 26, 2023
Singer’s death comes a year after the death of her teenage son
22:00 , Inga Parkel
Sinead O’Connor’s untimely death comes a year after the death of her 17-year-old son Shane. His death by suicide was announced by the singer in January 2022.
A month after his death, O’Connor deeply mourned the loss, saying she would never perform again.
“There will never be anything to sing about again,” she tweeted at the time.
The “Nothing Compares 2 U” artist is survived by her three children Jake Reynolds, 36, Roisin Waters, 27, and Yeshua Bonadi, 16.
Sinead O’Connor, the Irish artist who put her pain, and the pain of others, into song
21:30 , Inga Parkel
Read Helen Brown’s beautiful tribute to the “complicated and brilliant” Sinead O’Connor for The Independent.
Sinead O’Connor, the Irish artist who put her pain, and the pain of others, into song
O’Connor shot to fame in 1990 with her cover of Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’, confronting the nation with all her trauma and vulnerability. Helen Brown pays tribute to a complicated, brilliant artist
WATCH: Sinead O’Connor’s stand-out moments
21:10 , Inga Parkel
The world pays tribute
20:48 , Tom Murray
Tributes from around the world have poured in for the late artist after being led by Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
“Really sorry to hear of the passing of Sinéad O’Connor. Her music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare,” the Irish politician tweeted.
Among those sending condolences are Irish mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor, American rapper Ice-T and Irish comedian Dara Ó Briain.
Find a round-up of all the tributes here:
‘Her talent was unmatched’: The world pays tribute to Sinead O’Connor
Watch: Sinead O’Connor’s stand-out moments
20:37 , Tom Murray
20:30 , Louis Chilton
Here’s a roundup of some of the voices to have already shared tributes to the late Irish artist.
Figures including Irish writer Marian Keyes and comedian Dara O’Briain have expressed their sorrow over O’Connor’s untimely death.
Read more:
Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar leads tributes to Sinead O’Connor
20:27 , Louis Chilton
“A voice that cracked stone.”
Musician Alison Moyet wrote: “Heavy hearted at the loss of Sinead O’Connor. Wanted to reach out to her often but didn’t.
“I remember her launch. Astounding presence. Voice that cracked stone with force & by increment. As beautiful as any girl around & never traded on that card. I Loved that about her. Iconoclast.”
Heavy hearted at the loss of Sinead O’Connor. Wanted to reach out to her often but didn’t.I remember her launch. Astounding presence.Voice that cracked stone with force & by increment. As beautiful as any girl around & never traded on that card. I Loved that about her. Iconoclast
— Alison Moyet (@AlisonMoyet) July 26, 2023
20:08 , Louis Chilton
Tim Burgess, the leader of alt-rock band The Charlatans, wrote that O’Connor was “the true embodiment of a punk spirit”.
“She did not compromise and that made her life more of a struggle. Hoping that she has found peace.”
20:05 , Louis Chilton
O’Connor’s music transcended genre and continents. American rapper Ice-T is among the musicians to have shared a tribute.
“Respect to Sinead..... She stood for something... Unlike most people.... Rest Easy,” he wrote.
Respect to Sinead….. She stood for something… Unlike most people…. Rest Easy..🙏🏽 https://t.co/3nbO3w22zv
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) July 26, 2023
20:02 , Louis Chilton
“One of the most incredible and unique voices in music.”
Here’s a remarkable clip of O’Connor performing alongside Roger Waters and the Band live in 1990.
56 is way too young. Rest in peace to the incredible Sinéad O’Connor. She had one of the most incredible and unique voices in music. Here she is at 23 performing a beautiful rendition of Mother with Roger Waters and The Band live in 1990 pic.twitter.com/gMcn45ooB5
— kaboom (@lennonandmarx) July 26, 2023
19:55 , Louis Chilton
Irish sibling musicians Jedward have shared their own tribute to O’Connor on social media.
“True Irish Icon of our Generation!” they wrote. “We only just met her this year and she was in good spirits, a very welcoming person with a big heart.”
Rest in Peace Sinead O’Connor very sad to hear the news ☘️🇮🇪 True Irish Icon of our Generation! We only just met her this year and she was in good spirits, a very welcoming person with a big heart ❤️
— JEDWARD (@planetjedward) July 26, 2023
19:44 , Louis Chilton
Folk musician and protest singer Grace Petrie is among the artists paying tribute.
“Desperately sad news about Sinead O’Connor,” she wrote. “An amazing musician and an incredible voice for justice who deserved far better than the many ways music and media treated her.
“Not sure I have seen an artist take a risk or a stand comparable to the one she took in 1992 on the biggest platform she had ever had. Utterly uncompromising. Rest in power.”
Desperately sad news about Sinead O’Connor. An amazing musician and an incredible voice for justice who deserved far better than the many ways music and media treated her.
— Grace Petrie (@gracepetrie) July 26, 2023
19:39 , Louis Chilton
This is an in depth look at one of O’Connor’s most famous moments, when she tore up a photograph of the Pope on live TV to take a stance against paedophilia in the church.
A brave, singular force in the world of music.
The day Sinéad O’Connor tore up a photo of the Pope on Saturday Night Live
19:35 , Louis Chilton
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has shared a tribute to O’Connor.
“Her music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare,” wrote the Irish leader.
Really sorry to hear of the passing of Sinéad O’Connor.
Her music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare.
Condolences to her family, her friends and all who loved her music.
Ar dheis Dé go Raibh a hAnam. https://t.co/JVHxz7Kv2Z— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) July 26, 2023
19:31 , Louis Chilton
“A trailblazer... Fearless, uncompromising & a superlative talent. Proved to be ahead of her time, again and again.
“Her passing at 56 is a devastating loss.”
Sinead O’Connor was a trailblazer. Fearless, uncompromising & a superlative talent. Proved to be ahead of her time, again & again. Her passing at 56 is a devastating loss.
This snippet from an all-timer of a live rendition of Nothing Compares 2 U perfectly captures her spirit. pic.twitter.com/g84TrBTIwb— Steven (@Steven_Armour) July 26, 2023
19:27 , Louis Chilton
Some deeply moving tributes are already being shared on social media – it’s clear her activism resonated with people just as much as her music.
Absolutely heartbroken to hear of Sinead O’Connor passing today.
Sinead showed huge support for people living with HIV. Here she wears a Dublin AIDS Alliance (now @HIVIreland) tee on the Late Late show in 1990.
A very different Ireland then and now - more so with losing her 🖤 pic.twitter.com/YXAFsRUDH7— Adam Shanley (@Adlers1) July 26, 2023
19:21 , Louis Chilton
The music world has been rocked this evening by the news that Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor has died.
Her family announced in a statement: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad.
“Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
Read more:
