Obituary | The place where she was

Sinéad O’Connor hated the very idea of being a pop star

Ireland’s most provocative singer and protester died on July 26th, aged 56

Irish singer Sinead O'Connor gestures while singing in 1998
Image: CAMERA PRESS

Six years ago “Dr Phil”, America’s fatherly TV therapist, asked Sinéad O’Connor to show him a picture of the life she hoped for in future. She held out a sketch of a spiky-haired woman in trousers and a stars-and-stripes top, singing into a microphone. He asked her to sign it, and she did: Magda Davitt. To his nonplussed look, she explained hastily that Sinéad O’Connor had gone. She didn’t want to be that person any more.

This article appeared in the Obituary section of the print edition under the headline “The place where she was”

From the August 12th 2023 edition

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