Sinead O’Connor dies, aged 56
Tributes to Irish singer Sinead O’Connor are continuing to pour in, in the wake of the Irish singer’s death aged 56.
Thousands of fans, fellow musicians and public figures have shared their love for O’Connor since her family confirmed the Dublin-born musician had died.
And in a letter to The Telegraph, one particularly moving account of her generosity has been resurfaced.
In 1991, a year after her cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” propelled her to worldwide fame, O’Connor called a young woman with terminal cancer, Louise Woolcock, out of the blue.
“Sinéad had heard of Louise’s illness from some source, probably the press, as we were raising funds for our local hospice,” her father, Philip, recalled to the publication. “My daughter was a great admirer of her and loved her music.”
Mr Woolcock recalled how O’Connor invited Louise to London and proceeded to give his daughter “the best week of her short life”, taking her out to dinners, for drinks and dancing.
“During all this time, Sinéad never sought any publicity for these acts of love and compassion,” Mr Woolcock said. “Today my thoughts are with two remarkable women who, I have no doubt, will be somewhere still laughing, dancing and singing.”
Sinead O’Connor documentary: How to watch late singer’s film ‘Nothing Compares’ in the UK
The film was made available to stream on Sky and NOW over the weekend.
Here’s how you can watch Kathryn Ferguson’s critically acclaimed film about the life and career of Sinead O’Connor…
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 12:00
Sinead O’Connor shared heartbreaking post about her son Shane days before she died
Sinead O’Connor died 18 months after her son Shane, who was 17 when he died last year by suicide.
On 17 July, O’Connor shared a post on Twitter paying tribute to Shane, and expressing her ongoing grief over his loss.
She wrote: “#lostmy17yrOldSonToSuicidein2022. Been living as undead night creature since. He was the love of my life, the lamp of my soul. We were one soul in two halves. He was the only person who ever loved me unconditionally. I am lost in the bardo without him [sic].”
Bardo, in Tibetan Buddhism, is a state of existence between death and rebirth.
O’Connor shared her son Shane with Irish folk musician and producer Donal Lunny. Shane died in January 2022, after escaping a hospital where he was on suicide watch.
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 11:30
‘Trailblazer’ Sinead O’Connor led the way, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill says
‘Trailblazer’ Sinead O’Connor ‘led the way,’ Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill says
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 11:00
Joe Pesci said he ‘would have slapped’ Sinead O’Connor over pope stunt
The Goodfellas star has attracted criticism for past comments he made about Sinead O’Connor.
In 1992, Pesci appeared on Saturday Night Live and said he would have “slapped” the singer over the pope stunt she had performed on the show one week earlier.
The move, which was a protest against the sexual abuse of children by the Catholic Church, led to a huge and lengthy backlash – something O’Connor herself reflected on in her 2021 memoir, Rememberings.
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 10:30
No medical cause given for Sinead O’Connor’s death
No medical cause was given in the death of Sinead O’Connor and an autopsy will be carried out, London Inner South Coroner’s Court said on Thursday (27 July).
The result of the autopsy may not be available for several weeks, according to a statement on the court website.
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 09:30
Voices: I can’t believe I agree with Morrissey, but he’s right on Sinéad O’Connor
“I don’t often agree with Morrissey, but I thought he put it well when he raged that ‘the cruel play-pen of fame gushes with praise’ for Sinéad O’Connor now she has died, but ‘hadn’t the guts to support her when she was alive and she was looking for you,’” writes Chas Newkey-Burden.
Chas Newkey-Burden30 July 2023 09:00
Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill calls Sinead O’Connor a ‘trailblazer’ who ‘led the way,’
‘Trailblazer’ Sinead O’Connor ‘led the way,’ Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill says
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 08:00
What did Sinead O’Connor say about her pope stunt?
During a 1992 appearance on SNL, O’Connor controversially ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II in a protest against the sexual abuse of children by the Catholic Church.
The move led to a huge and lengthy backlash – something O’Connor herself reflected on in her 2021 memoir, Rememberings.
“A lot of people say or think that tearing up the Pope’s photo derailed my career,” she wrote. “That’s not how I feel about it I feel that having a No 1 record derailed my career and my tearing the photo put me back on the right track.”
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 07:00
Joe Pesci is being called out for historic comments he made about Sinead O’Connor
The Goodfellas actor said he “would have slapped” Sinead O’Connor for tearing up a photograph of the Pope in 1992.
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 06:00
Read Sinead O’Connor’s open letter to Miley Cyrus
After the release of her viral music video for her hit single “Wrecking Ball”, Cyrus (then 20 years old) told Rolling Stone magazine that she’d been inspired by the O’Connor’s accompanying visuals for “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990).
In response, O’Connor wrote to Cyrus “in the spirit of motherliness and with love” and told her that it was not “cool” to be “naked and licking sledgehammers in your videos”.
Annabel Nugent30 July 2023 05:00