Sinead O’Connor funeral updates — Nothing Compares 2 U star laid to rest in Bray service as cause of death still unknown
SINEAD O'Connor was laid to rest yesterday in a private funeral held in an Irish town close to the singer's heart.
Music superstar was found dead in her flat in south-east last Wednesday aged just 56, but her cause of death is still unknown.
And yesterday morning, her funeral cortege progressed along the seafront in Bray, County Wicklow, following a private Muslim ceremony, attended by Irish Taioseach Leo Varadkar.
The route began at the Harbour Bar end of Strand Road and moved past the home that Sinead lived in for 15 years on Montobello - while speakers played out Bob Marley and fans applauded the singer as the procession moved on.
Sinead's family then held a private burial at 12.30pm local time.
Read our Sinead O'Connor funeral blog below for the latest updates...
Documentary about Sinéad’s life available for streaming now
The documentary, titled Nothing Compares after the icon’s first hit cover, was released in cinemas last year and can currently be streamed on Paramount+, or Hulu and Amazon with a Showtime subscription.
The film chronicles Sinéad’s life with rarely-seen footage as she rises to stardom in the 90s and faces controversy in both her career and relationships.
“In one way, I loved it. Obviously, I was very a young woman and you kind of fantasize about being famous. In another way, I was frightened by it,” she told about the biopic.
“What maybe was different for me was the timing of the success thing, it meant that I suddenly had this identity.”
“I didn’t feel like it was really me. To be honest, I also had very little self-esteem and I couldn’t understand why anyone liked my records.”
Sinéad had four children
Sinéad O’Connor was a mother of four, welcoming three sons and one daughter throughout her lifetime.
In 1987, she had her firstborn, Jake Reynolds, 36, with her ex-husband, John Reynolds.
She welcomed her daughter, Roisin Waters, 27, in 1996.
Rosin’s father is Irish columnist and author John Waters.
In pictures: Thousands of mourners attend the funeral of Sinead O’Connor in Bray
Thousands of mourners bid farewell to music superstar Sinead O’Connor yesterday morning.
Her funeral cortege progressed along the seafront in Bray, County Wicklow, following a private Muslim ceremony, attended by Irish Taioseach Leo Varadkar.
Sinead’s family then held a private burial at 12.30pm local time.
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty
Sinéad O’Connor converted to Islam
On October 25, 2018, Sinéad, who was ordained a priest by a Catholic sect during the 1990s, announced she had converted to Islam and changed her name to Shuhada’ Davitt.
The singer tweeted a picture of herself wearing a hijab and told fans: “This is to announce that I am proud to have become a Muslim.”
“This is the natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian’s journey.
“All scripture study leads to Islam. Which makes all other scriptures redundant.
“I will be given (another) new name. It will be Shuhada.”
Sinead O’Connor propelled to global stardom in 1990
The late singer was propelled to global stardom in 1990 with her version of Prince hit Nothing Compares 2 U.
In 2003 she announced that she was retiring from music but continued to record new material.
Following her death, her music management company 67 Management said she had been finishing a new album.
Sinead had also been reviewing tour dates for next year and was also considering “opportunities” around a movie of her book.
What does the Irish name Sinéad mean?
Sinéad is a name of Irish origin that means “God is gracious.”
Sinéad is the feminine counterpart to the Hebrew male name Yohannan.
Yohannan translates to “God forgave” or “God gratified” in English.
While Jeanette serves as the French counterpart to the name Sinéad, Janet is considered the English version.
Pink chair placed on steps was found on the beach
Adrian Duggan, a Bray resident found the pink chair on the beach ahead of Sinead's funeral yesterday.
Speaking to PA he said he found the pink chair which was then placed on the steps to the late singer’s former home on the beach.
“I’d never seen a pink chair on the beach before,” he said, so he placed it in front of the house’s pink-framed conservatory at the head of planters full of pink and purple flowers.
Sinéad’s discography
The following list details Sinéad’s award-winning discography from the moment she began releasing music in the late 1980s:
- 1987: The Lion and the Cobra
- 1990: I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
- 1992: Am I Not Your Girl?
- 1994: Universal Mother
- 1997: Gospel Oak (EP)
- 2000: Faith and Courage
- 2002: Sean-Nós Nua
- 2005: Throw Down Your Arms
- 2007: Theology
- 2012: How About I Be Me (and You Be You)?
- 2014: I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss
- Upcoming: No Veteran Dies Alone
Neighbour recalls conversation with Sinead about Bob Marley
Ken Doyle, of the band Bagatelle, was a neighbour of Sinead O’Connor’s when she lived on the Bray seafront.
He told RTE: “Sinead was a very private person and me being in the music business in Bagatelle as well, I know when people need their space.
“She had the quoin stones painted with the Rastafarian flag and I met her at the gate and I just said: ‘Hi Sinead, you must be a big Bob Marley fan with the Rastafarian flag on the quoin stones.’
“And she said ‘I am. I’m a huge fan. He’s my hero really.’
“And I said, ‘Well I had the honour of supporting him at Dalymount Park in 1980.’“And she looked at me and took a puff from her cigarette, and said: ‘You lucky fecker.’ And she walked away and that was our conversation.”
What happened to Sinéad O’Connor?
On July 26, 2023, Sinéad’s family announced the singer died at the age of 56.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad.” her family told .
“Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
She is survived by three of her four living children; Jake Reynolds, Roisin Waters, and Yeshua Bonadio.
On January 7, 2022, Sinéad’s 17-year-old son Shane died from suicide.
Sinéad had four children
Sinéad O’Connor was a mother of four, welcoming three sons and one daughter throughout her lifetime.
In 1987, she had her firstborn, Jake Reynolds, 36, with her ex-husband, John Reynolds.
She welcomed her daughter, Roisin Waters, 27, in 1996.
Rosin’s father is Irish columnist and author John Waters.
Bono and Sir Bob Geldof were among guests at service
Bono and Sir Bob Geldof led emotional mourners in saying a “last goodbye” to Sinead O’Connor yesterday as the star was laid to rest.
What was said in Sinead’s eulogy?
Delivering the eulogy, Imam Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri said: “Just as Sinead O’Connor brought diverse souls together through her art, so have you orchestrated a symphony of unity during her final journey.
“Your noble gesture has transcended boundaries and connected strangers, echoing the very essence of Sinead‘s legacy.”
He continued: “In this shared moment of remembrance and prayer, we find ourselves united in a tapestry of love, compassion, and reverence.
“May this ceremony be a testament to the enduring power of humanity’s collective spirit, as we bid farewell to a remarkable soul who touched us all.”
Why did Sinéad O’Connor change her name?
When she was 51 years old, Sinéad O’Connor changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat.
At the time, the Roman Catholic-born singer revealed she converted to Islam.
On October 19, 2018, Sinéad announced via Twitter: “This is to announce that I am proud to have become a Muslim.
“This is the natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian’s journey.
“All scripture study leads to Islam. Which makes all other scriptures redundant.
“I will be given (another) new name. It will be Shuhada.”
‘I had no desire for fame’
During a Saturday Night Live performance in 1992, Sinead tore a photo of Pope John Paul II to shreds during one of her songs.
She received backlash from many big names, including Madonna and Joe Pesci.
“Everyone wants a pop star, see? But I am a protest singer,” Sinead wrote in her 2021 book, Rememberings.
“I just had stuff to get off my chest. I had no desire for fame.”
Sinéad’s most streamed songs
Sinéad O’Connor’s musical career spanned multiple decades and is widely recognized around the world.
Her music has garnered millions of streams on the popular music streaming app Spotify.
Below are the singer’s top five most streamed songs:
- Nothing Compares 2 U (288,487,571 streams)
- All Apologies (27,670,172 streams)
- Drink Before the War (20,232,019 streams)
- Mandinka (14,174,135 streams)
- Troy (13,475,629 streams)
Sinéad held a Hindu funeral for her son
Sinéad held a Hindu funeral for Shane, placing a pack of cigarettes in his coffin.
She said: “We just said goodbye to our beautiful angel, Shaney.
“Very lovely Hindu ceremony. Shane will have loved it. He was always chanting ‘Om. Shanti’.
“I put a few packs of fags in the coffin for him in case there’s none in heaven. He’ll have loved that too. Om. Shanti.”
What does the Irish name Sinéad mean?
Sinéad is a name of Irish origin that means “God is gracious.”
Sinéad is the feminine counterpart to the Hebrew male name Yohannan.
Yohannan translates to “God forgave” or “God gratified” in English.
While Jeanette serves as the French counterpart to the name Sinéad, Janet is considered the English version.
Sinéad O’Connor converted to Islam
On October 25, 2018, Sinéad, who was ordained a priest by a Catholic sect during the 1990s, announced she had converted to Islam and changed her name to Shuhada’ Davitt.
The singer tweeted a picture of herself wearing a hijab and told fans: “This is to announce that I am proud to have become a Muslim.”
“This is the natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian’s journey.
“All scripture study leads to Islam. Which makes all other scriptures redundant.
“I will be given (another) new name. It will be Shuhada.”
Pals ‘blindsided’ by sudden death
Pals previously by her sudden passing at home.
Sinead had in a video message to fans at the start of July, and had been and a tour in 2024.
Her family last week at the death of their “beloved Sinead”.
Sinead is survived by three children – Jake, Roisin and Yeshua.
Sinéad O’Connor was an ordained priest before converting to Islam
Sinéad O’Connor had a complicated relationship with religion throughout her life, often stirring up controversy – like the time she tore up an image of the pope on SNL in 1992.
But the icon said she was fiercely spiritual and worshipped God, albeit in her own way.
She was ordained in a niche sect of the Catholic Church – the Latin Tridentine sect, separate from the Roman Catholic Church – in 1999 and became Mother Bernadette Marie, reported.
Documentary about Sinéad’s life available for streaming now
The documentary, titled Nothing Compares after the icon’s first hit cover, was released in cinemas last year and can currently be streamed on Paramount+, or Hulu and Amazon with a Showtime subscription.
The film chronicles Sinéad’s life with rarely-seen footage as she rises to stardom in the 90s and faces controversy in both her career and relationships.
“In one way, I loved it. Obviously, I was very a young woman and you kind of fantasize about being famous. In another way, I was frightened by it,” she told about the biopic.
“What maybe was different for me was the timing of the success thing, it meant that I suddenly had this identity.”
“I didn’t feel like it was really me. To be honest, I also had very little self-esteem and I couldn’t understand why anyone liked my records.”
Sinead O Connor’s autopsy has been completed
The London Inner South Coroners’ Court has confirmed an autopsy has been completed on the singer’s remains to secure a “medical cause of death”.
But the results may not be available for “some weeks”, a statement said.
Court chiefs said the results will be publicly disclosed if an inquest is opened into Nothing Compares 2 U star Sinead’s death.
Met Police last week said the legendary singer’s death, just weeks after she’d moved to the UK, was not being treated as suspicious.
‘Amazing in every way’
Michelle Buckley and Geraldine Canning attended the memorial on Monday evening to lay flowers for Sinead.
Ms Buckley said O’Connor was an inspiration to Irish women.
“I think she’s just amazing in every way. Her singing voice was amazing but her own voice was amazing too,” she said.
“And she definitely was a woman for the people of Ireland, especially for the women of Ireland, without a doubt.”
Ms Buckley said O’Connor’s public protest on SNL in the 90s was “fearless”.
She added: “That was a strong woman, a fearless woman that did that, ripping up the Pope’s photograph. That wasn’t an easy thing to decide to do.
“And she stood up for us. She stood up for Ireland. When everything that was happening, the abuse, all that, it didn’t stop. But she stood up and people listened.”
Funeral cortege moved past the home that Sinead lived in for 15 years
This morning, the late stars funeral cortege progressed along the seafront in Bray, County Wicklow, following a private Muslim ceremony, attended by Irish Taioseach Leo Varadkar.
The route began at the Harbour Bar end of Strand Road and moved past the home that Sinead lived in for 15 years on Montobello - while speakers played out Bob Marley and fans applauded the singer as the procession moved on.
Sinead's family then held a private burial at 12.30pm local time.