Since the news broke, many individuals have posted tributes to the artist
BY DIVA STAFF, IMAGE BY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Yesterday, Wednesday 26 July, the family of Sinéad O’Connor announced the death of the incredible performer. The statement reported by The Irish Times said, “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.”
Sinéad rose to fame with the 1990 hit single, Nothing Compares 2 U, which was her version of the song written by Prince. She was also particularly well known for her outspoken nature and her social and political views. Perhaps one of her most memorable moments of protest was the act of condemning the Catholic church during a Saturday Night Live performance in 1992. This was after the publicity of sexual abuse scandals within the Catholic church.
In this performance, she ripped up an image of the Pope and boldly said, “Fight the real enemy”. These are words that many will remember her for. She was largely criticised for it at the time, but after the truth to the scandal was exposed, a mural appeared on a Dublin wall which read “Sinéad, you were right all along”.
The mural is pictured below…
The first and last pictures I took of #SineadOConnor . The text on the mural in Temple Bar reads. “Sinead you were right all along. We were wrong. So sorry.” pic.twitter.com/Tj2OQeEgfu
— Niall Carson (@niallcarsonpa) July 26, 2023
After her protest on Saturday Night Live, Sinéad made it very clear that she did not regret her actions at all – regardless of the impact it had on her career: “I’m not sorry I did it. It was brilliant”. Sinéad’s work was never about fame or stardom, it was always about using song to express her complex feelings. She was a fierce advocate for marginalised people, and so, her death is a huge loss to many communities.
Every Irish queer, woman and outcast is surely feeling Sinéad’s passing tonight.
— Toryn Caitriona Glavin (@torynglavin) July 26, 2023
Back in 2017 when I worked for TENI we got a call from her management asking could she donate her closet to us to as she was downsizing and wanted the clothes to go to trans folk in need.
An icon. pic.twitter.com/5jYZmlGLkI
Our thoughts are with her family and to all those affected by this news.
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