Imelda May has shared her heartbreak over the death of her “good friend” Sinéad O’Connor.
The legendary singer’s funeral took place on Tuesday, following her sudden passing on July 26th.
Thousands turned out to pay their respects in Bray, Co. Wicklow, as the hearse carrying her coffin passed by the seafront.
A host of famous faces attended the funeral on Tuesday – including Bono, Bob Geldof, and Imelda, who had grown close to Sinéad over the years.
Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, an emotional Imelda shared how she was doing after the funeral, revealing how she was throwing herself into rehearsals for her new play.
She told fans: “Hi. [I’m] back in rehearsals. Rehearsals every day first show tomorrow did promo. It’s been a tough time and didn’t we all send Sinead off beautifully yesterday?”
“We gave her loads of love we sang to the heavens for her all night. So I’m just throwing myself into this play, into art, into love. I hope you all have a great day.”
In another post, Imelda said: “I just want to add how grateful I am to have so much love in my life – so many great people.”
“And my sisters Edel and Maria and my friend Anita and Karen so the women are all gathering around with all that’s been going on have been minding my daughter and they’ve been amazing.”
“I couldn’t have managed without them, and my daughter has been the best, so flipping lucky and I’m very grateful.”
The songstress previously revealed how Sinéad got her through some “tough times” personally.
Following the news of her death, Imelda said: “Sinead was a good friend of mine and she got me through some tough times. We got each other through some stuff.
“She’s gone from being demonised to sainthood within the matter of a week and none of us are any of those things.
“We’re all somewhere down the middle, but I am glad that she’s getting the love. I’m glad she got to see it before she was gone, she did get to see the tide turn in her favour.”
The singer, who shot to fame in the 90s for her cover of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U, sadly passed away in London on July 26th – aged 56.
Sinéad’s death is not being treated as suspicious, but an autopsy was ordered to determine the cause of her death.
The results of the autopsy may not be received “for some weeks”, but her cause of death won’t be made public unless an inquest into her death is opened.
Sinéad had only recently moved to London, and shared a video showing off her new flat just two weeks before she died.
The beloved songstress is survived by three of her children – Jake, Roisin and Yeshua.
The musician, who changed her name to Shuhada’ Sadaqat in 2018 after converting to Islam, released 10 studio albums during her career.
The news of Sinead’s death came over a year after her 17-year-old son Shane took his own life in January 2022, after he left a hospital in Dublin – where he had been admitted for care.
At the time, she wrote on social media: “My beautiful son, Nevi’im Nesta Ali Shane O’Connor, the very light of my life, decided to end his earthly struggle today and is now with God.”
“May he rest in peace and may no one follow his example. My baby. I love you so much. Please be at peace.”
In one of her last tweets, which was posted on July 17, 2023, Sinead posted a photo of herself and Shane and wrote: “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.”
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭#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 pic.twitter.com/aC8BOmLQ9N— Sinead Marie-Bernarde Aoibheann O’Connor (@786OmShahid) July 17, 2023
Following her son’s passing last January, the singer cancelled her scheduled gigs for the rest of the year.
A statement released by her management at the time said: “We would like to respectfully announce that due to continuing grief over the tragic loss of her beloved son Shane earlier this year, Sinead O’Connor will not be performing live in 2022.”
The singer’s management added that it was not “an easy decision”, but it was necessary for her “own health and wellbeing”.
The statement continued to thank Sinéad’s worldwide agency ICM, who handled the situation “with the utmost respect and dignity,” and thanked “local and international promoters” for the continued “support and understanding.”
Her management team concluded, “Thank you also to Sinead’s friends and fans whose support and understanding we hold in the highest esteem throughout this period.”
“The love being shown has been a source of great comfort and peace for Sinead.”
Her last public appearance took place back in March, when she was presented with the inaugural award for Classic Irish Album at the RTÉ Choice Music Awards.
Sinéad O’Connor last March.
Via RTE Choice Music. pic.twitter.com/MiYnJqBjIX— Martine St-Victor (@MartineMontreal) July 26, 2023
Sinead received a standing ovation at the event, as she dedicated the award tp “each and every member of Ireland’s refugee community”.
“You’re very welcome in Ireland. I love you very much and I wish you happiness,” she said.
In 2021, the songstress released a memoir called Rememberings.
The following year, a docu-film called Nothing Compares, directed by Kathryn Ferguson, was released about her life.
