Irish songstress Sinead O’Connor has been remembered as the ‘greatest voice of her generation’ and a ‘talent beyond compare’.
Shock spread worldwide on Wednesday following the news of the 56-year-old singer’s death.
She had posted on Twitter two weeks ago that she had “moved back to London after a 23 year absence. Very happy to be home. Soon finishing my album”.
Her family issued a statement to say: “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.”
President Michael D Higgins led the tributes to the star, saying that Ireland has lost one of its greatest and most gifted composers, songwriters and performers of recent decades.
“To those of us who had the privilege of knowing her, one couldn’t but always be struck by the depth of her fearless commitment to the important issues which she brought to public attention, no matter how uncomfortable those truths may have been,” he said.
The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Sinead’s “music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare”.
Sinead was best known for her smash 1990 hit “Nothing Compares 2 U,” written by Prince.
Sinead had openly talked about her mental health issues and suffering from bipolar disorder. When her teenage son Shane died by suicide in 2022, she tweeted to say there was “no point living without him”.
Sinead you are home with your son I am sure,” said MMA Fighter Conor McGregor.
“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,” McGregor tweeted.
Sinead is also remembered as an activist, who was not without controversy but spoke up about topics that others shied away from
Sinead showed huge support for people living with HIV.
“We are incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Irish music legend, activist, and proud ally of people living with HIV and impacted by AIDS, Sinead O’Connor. A profoundly talented artist and a trailblazer in every sense. We remember her talent, her courage, and her honesty,” said a tribute from HIV Ireland.
Born in Dublin in 1966, Sinead had a turbulent childhood.
She rose to fame in 1990 with a multi-platinum selling album. The Lion and the Cobra earned O’Connor a 1989 Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
Two years later, a controversial TV appearance on Saturday Night Live, in which she ripped up a picture of the pope, sent shockwaves around the world.
O’Connor was nominated for four Grammys in 1991, but declined awards in protest against the commercial nature of the industry.
She was also named Artist of the Year by Rolling Stone in that same year.
In 2018 she converted to Islam and adopted the name Shuhada’ Davitt, later Shuhada Sadaqat.
O’Connor is survived by three of her children.
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