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

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

More from Obituary

Peter Fenwick

Peter Fenwick became the world expert on near-death experiences

The neuropsychiatrist and promoter of “the art of dying” died on November 22nd, aged 89

Author Chiung Yao

Chiung Yao taught the Chinese all about romantic love

The bestselling novelist and screenwriter died on December 4th, aged 86


Jimmy Carter in 1976

Jimmy Carter was perhaps the most virtuous of all America’s presidents

The humble peanut farmer who went to the White House died on December 29th, aged 100


Brother Harold Palmer lived alone in the wilds by choice

The Northumbrian hermit died on October 4th, aged 93

Shalom Nagar was picked by lottery to kill Adolf Eichmann

The Israeli prison officer turned ritual slaughterer died on November 26th, aged 88

John Kinsel used his own language to fool the Japanese

One of the last Navajo code-talkers died on October 19th, aged 107