Sinead O’Connor broke hearts around the world with a voice of incomparable beauty and tragedy, and now her death aged 56 has left millions heartbroken all over again.
The mother-of-four was a self-confessed troubled soul, whose angelic tones delivered their defiant message in a life filled with pain. Her death came just 18 months after her son Shane took his own life aged 17 after escaping hospital while on suicide watch.
In the star’s final tweet, she posted a photo of Shane, writing: “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.”
Sinead rose to international fame with her 1990 hit Nothing Compares 2 U, but she was never comfortable with stardom. However, she used her platform to challenge the wrongs she saw in society and to stand up for others who were suffering as a result. And she was always defiantly herself, even when that caused shock or revealed her emotional fragility.
Born in Dublin on December 8, 1966, Sinead was shaped by a troubled childhood. Her parents split when she was eight, and at the age of 13 she left her mother, Marie, to go and live with her father, Jack. Later in life she claimed she started having mental health issues because her mother abused her as a child.
By the age of 15, Sinead’s shoplifting and truancy led to her being placed for 18 months in a corrective school in Dublin. The Grianan Training Centre was previously one of the notorious Magdalene asylums for “fallen women”. She later recalled of her experience there: “I have never, and probably will never experience such panic and terror and agony over anything.”
But it was also where she found solace in writing and music, and where one of the nuns spotted her talent, bought a guitar and pushed her to have lessons. Sinead was 18 when her mother died in a car accident aged 45 as she lost control of her car on an icy road and crashed into a bus.
In the same year, the budding musician posted an advert in a Dublin music magazine and met producer Colm Farrelly, with whom she formed the band Ton Ton Macoute. Sinead soon caught the attention of the music industry, signed with Ensign Records and in 1987 she released her first album, The Lion and the Cobra, to critical success.
But it was her second album, 1990’s I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, that propelled her on to the global music scene. Her first single from the album, a haunting cover of the Prince song Nothing Compares 2 U, was one of the best-selling singles around the world, topping charts in many countries including the UK and US. The simple, yet unforgettable, accompanying video mostly consisted of a close-up of the shaven-headed singer performing the ballad with tears rolling down her cheeks.
She would later reveal she always thought of her mother when she sang it.
The album sold more than seven million copies and was nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning one – but, in a sign of her rebellious nature, she refused to accept the nominations and award.
A year later, Rolling Stone magazine named her Artist of the Year, saying: “She proved that a recording artist could refuse to compromise and still connect with millions of listeners hungry for music of substance.”
Sinead would go on to release over 10 albums and work on songs with artists ranging from Bono to Dolly Parton, and also starred in Neil Jordan’s hit movie The Butcher Boy in 1997.
But it was her refusal to compromise that set her apart. Even at the height of her fame her shaved head, shapeless clothes and defiant spirit challenged society’s notions of femininity, while she was never shy to express her views on religion, sex and feminism.
In her 2021 memoir Rememberings, she wrote: “Everyone wants a pop star, see? But I am a protest singer. I just had stuff to get off my chest. I had no desire for fame.”
Perhaps her most controversial moment was when she ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II on US prime-time TV in 1992, a stunt which caused uproar, especially in her native Ireland.
But in her memoir she insisted she had no regrets, writing: “My intention had always been to destroy my mother’s photo of the Pope.
“It represented lies and liars and abuse. I never knew when or where or how I would destroy it, but destroy it I would when the right moment came.”
It was far from the last controversy for Sinead, whose hits included Drink Before The War, This Is The Day, and You Made Me The Thief Of Your Heart from the soundtrack of Daniel Day-Lewis film In the Name of the Father. courted controversy.
In 1990, the singer said she would refuse to go on stage in New Jersey if the Star-Spangled Banner was performed, provoking a feud with Frank Sinatra.
She caused further consternation in Ireland by becoming a priestess of the breakaway Latin Tridentine Church - a position that was not recognised by the mainstream Catholic Church.
The singer, who married four times and had four children, also spoke openly about her mental health struggles, revealing during an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show she had bipolar disorder and had suffered with suicidal thoughts.
She cancelled a tour in 2012 saying she had suffered a “very serious breakdown”, then in November 2015, posted a message on Facebook saying she had taken an overdose at a hotel in Ireland.
In 2018 Sinead revealed that she had converted to Islam and would be adopting the name Shuhada’ Sadaqat.
She said her new religion had given her some peace. “Christianity lied to me as an Irish person,” she said. “Christianity did nothing but rape the people of Ireland, metaphorically and literally. That’s why I like Islam. Because I can take the things I embraced with me. Jesus is still there but it’s the Jesus that makes sense to me.”
But tragedy struck again in January 2022 when her 17-year-old son Shane was found dead after being reported missing two days previously.
The singer described him as “the very light of my life” and said he had “decided to end his earthly struggle today and is now with God”, then worried fans again following her funeral by posting a series tweets in which she said she had “decided to follow my son”.
Sinead’s family said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinead. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
Last night tributes poured in for the songstress whose biggest hit, 1990’s Nothing Compares 2 U, became the soundtrack to lives of millions.
Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “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. [Rest in peace.]”
Irish mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor said “the world has lost an artist with the voice of an angel”.
McGregor, who Sinead once sang into the ring for a UFC fight in Las Vegas, wrote: “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.”
Singer Alison Moyet said: “Heavy hearted at the loss of Sinead O’Connor. Wanted to reach out to her often but didn’t. Astounding presence. Voice that cracked stone with force and by increment. As beautiful as any girl around and never traded on that card. I loved that about her. Iconoclast.”
Comedian Dara O’Briain said: “That’s just very sad news. Poor thing. I hope she realised how much love there was for her.”
Tim Burgess of The Charlatans: “Sinead 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.”
Author Marian Keyes: “This is heartbreaking. How she suffered. Poor, poor Sinead. Rest in peace, you amazing, brave, beautiful, unique wonder.”
Everything But The Girl’s Tracey Thorn: “What a singer and what a brave brave woman. Heartbreaking news.”
Alison Moyet tweeted: ‘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.’
Sinead leaves behind three children, and a world she helped to change.
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