UFC star Conor McGregor has paid his own tribute to Sinéad O’Connor in a series of tweets.
The tragic passing of Sinéad O’Connor at the age of 56 was first reported by The Irish Times on Wednesday night, resulting in numerous tributes from people around the world. These included well-known actor Russell Crowe, journalist Piers Morgan, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, and many others.
O’Connor’s family released their own statement, saying: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."
Fans of combat sports like UFC will remember Sinéad O’Connor's rendition of 'The Foggy Dew' when McGregor walked out in MGM Grand in Las Vegas for his UFC 189 fight with Chad Mendes in 2015.
McGregor paid his respects in a tweet and said, "The world has lost an artist with the voice of an Angel. Ireland has lost an iconic voice and one of our absolute finest, by a long shot. And I have lost a friend. Sinéad’s music will live on and continue to inspire! Rest In Peace, Sinéad, you are home with your son, I am sure." He also added, "What a Woman! Rest In Peace, Sinéad."
The world has lost an artist with the voice of an Angel. Ireland has lost an iconic voice and one of our absolute finest, by a long shot. And I have lost a friend. Sinead’s music will live on and continue to inspire! Rest In Peace, Sinead you are home with your son I am sure ❤️🙏 pic.twitter.com/9hvpwxuUyP
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 26, 2023
Who was Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor was born on December 8, 1966, in Dublin to parents John and Marie. She rose to fame in 1990 with Prince's song "Nothing Compares 2 U," which topped global charts. The song was featured on her second album, "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got," a bestseller that sold 7 million copies.
Despite positive reviews for her subsequent eight studio albums, O'Connor didn't achieve the same chart success. However, she became renowned for her outspoken views, notably tearing up a picture of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live in 1992 to protest clerical abuse cover-ups.
In the late '90s, O'Connor was ordained as a priest in Lourdes by the Latin Tridentine church, a sect not recognized by the Catholic Church. In 2017, she changed her name to Magda Davitt and, a year later, converted to Islam, changing her name again to Shuhada Sadaqat.
Throughout her career, O'Connor openly discussed her struggles with mental health. Tragically, in January 2022, just a week after the death of her 17-year-old son, Shane, she was admitted to the hospital.
On Thursday, according to the Metropolitan Police, the Irish singer was found unresponsive at her London home. The police confirmed they were treating the death as suspicious, stating in their statement, "Police were called at 11:18hrs on Wednesday, 26 July, to reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential address in the SE24 area. Officers attended. A 56-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene." They further added, "Next of kin have been notified. The death is not being treated as suspicious. A file will be prepared for the Coroner."
