President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina will attend Sinéad O’Connor’s funeral service this morning.
The 56-year-old sadly passed away in London on July 26th, and she will be laid to rest in Bray today.
Thousands of mourners have gathered along the seafront to bid their final farewell to the late singer, as her funeral cortége passes through the town.
Crowds gathering outside the home of Sinead O'Connor to pay their respect. ❤️#SineadOConnor pic.twitter.com/suA18WYc9D
— Dave Keegan (@davepaulkeegan) August 8, 2023
In a statement, the President of Ireland said: “The outpouring of grief and appreciation of the life and work of Sinéad O’Connor demonstrates the profound impact which she had on the Irish people.”
He also paid tribute to Sinéad in an emotional statement shared after her death.
He said at the time: “May I send my deepest condolences to Sinéad O’Connor’s father John, the members of her family and to all those with whom she shared her life.”
“My first reaction on hearing the news of Sinéad’s loss was to remember her extraordinarily beautiful, unique voice. What was striking in all of the recordings she made and in all of her appearances was the authenticity of the performance, while her commitment to the delivery of the song and its meaning was total.”
The crowd are loving Mandinka as they await the arrival of Sinéad O’Connor’s funeral cortège here on Bray seafront pic.twitter.com/pNy4wvX6pZ
— Eleanor Mannion (@eleanormmannion) August 8, 2023
“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.”
“What Ireland has lost at such a relatively young age is one of our greatest and most gifted composers, songwriters and performers of recent decades, one who had a unique talent and extraordinary connection with her audience, all of whom held such love and warmth for her.”
The statement continued: “The way in which she was able to move across the different forms of the arts was a singular achievement, as was the way her voice went around the world and how it was received. Her accomplishments included a body of work for film through the production of perfectly chosen and widely acclaimed lyrics.”
“Sinéad O’Connor’s voice and delivery was in so many different ways original, extraordinary and left one with a deep impression that to have accomplished all she did while carrying the burden which she did was a powerful achievement in its own way.”
“Her contribution joins those great achievements of Irish women who contributed to our lives, its culture and its history in their own unique but unforgettable ways. May her spirit find the peace she sought in so many different ways.”
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.
The beloved songstress, who shot to fame in the 90s for her cover of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U, is survived by three of her children – Jake, Roisin and Yeshua.
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.”
Following her son’s passing last January, the singer cancelled her scheduled gigs for the rest of the year.
The musician, who changed her name to Shuhada’ Sadaqat in 2018 after converting to Islam, released 10 studio albums during her career.
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.
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.
