Amy Huberman has led more well-known faces paying tribute to the late Sinéad O’Connor.
The Irish singer, who shot to fame in the 90s for her cover of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U, sadly passed away on Wednesday at the age of 56.
In a statement, her family 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.”
Her cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Taking to Instagram on Wednesday evening, Amy wrote: “Sinead, how lucky were we to have your talent, your voice, how courageous you were in speaking and owning your truth, especially at times when it was the most difficult thing to do.”
“I’ll never forget seeing Sinead in Dun Laoghaire when I was a teenager hanging out with friends. We were speechless, so star struck, I couldn’t wait to get home to tell my mum I’d just seen Sinead O’Connor.”
“So so heartbreaking for her family and friends. I hope you are with your boy. Rest In Peace Sinead 💚.”
Elsewhere, Kathryn Thomas penned: “RIP Sinead. A Poet, a maverick, a rule breaker, a change maker. Thank you for the music and always reminding us to stay true to who we are. Rest easy now 💔.”
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Comedian Aisling Bea wrote: “How desperately sad the loss of Sinéad O’Connor is. For music and Ireland. I did the Late Late Show with her a few years ago, a classic Irish lineup of all sorts of us, but I’d like to think including some women making their own paths in their worlds and not ones likely to be told to be quiet.”
“She was an absolute hero of mine and one of the few people I’ve ever been star struck by. I think she could tell because I became a chatty mess. She was dry and funny and kind and sharp and incredibly gentle.”
“There’s a beautiful documentary out about her life now which is inspiring but also so desperately sad, not just because of what she went through but because of how she was treated, often by her own. She was vilified, humiliated at times, metaphorically crucified when alone and in her twenties.”
“Everything she stood up for and against then, including racism in the music industry, has been proven to have been needed and right. She wasn’t just trying to look out for herself. She was the original truth sayer who wouldn’t go easy into the night.”
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“The original ‘difficult’ woman who didn’t make it easy. Because easy wasn’t the right thing to do and it wasn’t the truth. Gone too soon. Nothing compares to you. #ripsineadoconnor.”
Imelda May tweeted: “The legend Sinead O’Connor is gone. My dear friend, my mate, my sister Can’t find the words yet Tá mo chroí briste.”
Lily Allen wrote: “The world really did a number on Sinead O’Oconnor. RIP Angel.”
