Death at 56 of Sinéad O’Connor

Her relatives broke the news, saying “her family and friends are devastated,” “with great sadness.” It is unknown what caused the death.

She was best known for the 1990 single Nothing Compares 2 U, which peaked at number one and made her a household name.

Leo Varadkar, the Taoiseach (Irish PM), stated that her brilliance was unsurpassed and that her music was “loved around the world.”

Michael D. Higgins, the president of Ireland, hailed O’Connor for her “authenticity” and “beautiful, distinctive voice.”

“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,” he said.

Born Sinead Marie Bernadette O’Connor in Glenageary, County Dublin, in December 1966, the singer had a difficult childhood.

As a teenager, she was placed in Dublin’s An Grianan Training Centre, once one of the notorious Magdalene laundries, originally set up to incarcerate young girls deemed to be promiscuous.

One nun bought her a guitar and set her up with a music teacher – which led to the launch of O’Connor‘s musical career.