Posted on 07/26/2023 11:26:46 AM PDT by Morgana
Sinead O'Connor has died at the age of 56 after years of mental health battles, her 'devastated' family confirmed.
The Irish singer shot to stardom across the world in 1990 by her heartrending cover of Prince's Nothing Compares 2 U.
It comes a year after the mother-of-four's son Shane, 17, took his life in January 2022 after escaping hospital while on suicide watch.
At the time of her death, the musician, who changed her name to Shuhada' Sadaqat in 2018 when she converted to Islam, was thought to be spending her time between Co Roscommon, Ireland, and London.
In her last Tweet, O'Connor posted a photo of Shane and said: 'Been living as undead night creature since. He was the love of my life, the lamp of my soul.
'We were one soul in two halves. He was the only person who ever loved me unconditionally.
'I am lost in the bardo without him.'
The mother-of-four also posted a series of Spotify links to relatively sad and heart breaking songs, including one she dedicated to 'all mothers of Suicided children'.
In a statement, O'Connor's family said: '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.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
The singer has four children by four different partners and has been married three other times.
She came out in 2000, saying “I actually am a dyke”, before commenting a year later “It was overcompensating of me to declare myself a lesbian”.
Years later, she said “I’m three-quarters heterosexual, a quarter gay. I lean a bit more towards the hairy blokes” – but later said it’s “not accurate” to call her bisexual.
The Irish have excessively high rates of mental illness:
Results
Prevalence rates ranged from 15.0% (insomnia disorder) to 1.7% (histrionic personality disorder). Overall, 42.5% of the sample met criteria for a mental health disorder, and 11.1% had a lifetime history of attempted suicide. Younger age, being a shift worker and trauma exposure were independently associated with a higher likelihood of having a mental health disorder, while being in university was associated with a lower likelihood of having a disorder. ICD-11 complex posttraumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder and insomnia disorder had the highest PAFs for attempted suicide.
Conclusions
Mental health disorder prevalence in Ireland is relatively high compared to international estimates. The findings are discussed in relation to important mental health policy implications.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9281488/
Often times the most troubled make the most moving art.
Sinead was one of them.
Look at their history.
I would make the case that the Famine killed off most of their best stock, or caused them to flee the the country for the US.
RIP, and condolences to her family.
Hey, I think that you are onto something! I found this:
“After some research, I have compiled three potential theories as to why mental illness is so commonplace in the Irish Americans today: The Great Hunger, paternal age tendencies, and the Irish culture itself.
The first theory is certainly the most commonly heard: epigenetic changes that arose from The Great Hunger contribute to higher prevalence of mental illness in the Irish. Oonagh Walsh, an Irish historian, strongly believes this to be the case, as it is known that both the Irish and the Irish diaspora have significantly higher rates of mental illness than any other ethnic group. She believes that the nutritional deprivation endured by the Irish during the potato famine of 1845-1852 was so extreme that it caused changes in gene expression that led to a higher likelihood of obtaining mental illness at some point in life. These genetic changes have now persisted for over a century and a half. “
The Famine was a deliberate act of genocide by the English in order to reduce the Irish population to make it easier for the English to take it over.
And they lecture us about slavery?!?!?
She ripped up Pope John Paul’s picture on live TV in 1992.
If I want to follow in John Paul’s footsteps as he sought to follow in the footsteps of Jesus I cannot be angry with this woman.
PJP went to prison and held the hand of the man who tried to kill him in 1981.
I wish that was establish protocol, but the tools hereon indicate otherwise.
You are much closer in your thoughts and heart to God than I am and I mean that as a genuine compliment.
So, you must like Hunter’s paintings.
https://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/sinead_oconnor/daddy_im_fine-lyrics-59108.html
She struggled all her life. Saw her at City Winery in NY. Amazing. She had to start with sunglasses on to block out the audience. As she got more comfortable, they came off. When her meds were good, so was she.
As to the ripping up the pope’s picture, I was angry at the time (I am Catholic). Then I learned she was trying to draw attention to the priest/child sex scandal which wasn’t well known at the time. Maybe not the best way but I’ve become far more understanding of it. She wasn’t wrong.
May she finally have peace.
One of my clients told me about her mother’s last words before slipping into a coma: “I probably got this cancer because I was such a bad mother to you.”
LIBERALISM IS A MENTAL DISEASE!
Do you not remeber she tore up a big photo of POPE JOHN PAUL II on SNL??? THAT SHOWED SHE WAS NUTS!
AMEN!!! But as a Catholic, I believe you can’t get to heaven if you KILL YOURSELF!
I have read the comments on this post — both the charitable and the not so charitable toward Ms. O’Connor. To those who are criticizing her, you obviously have never lost a child. I have. My daughter and only child passed away from cardiac arrythmia (pre-covid and unexpected). My husband and I were devastated. In fact, it killed my husband. He didn’t take his life, but his health was never the same after she died. I sought help from a grief therapist and a support group. That, along with the prayers of my church, friends and family have kept me going all these years. To those of you who have never lost a child — be very thankful. It is a journey no parent should have to take. One last thought — never say to a bereaved parent, “It has been X years, aren’t you over it yet?” We never get over the loss of our child. I hope Ms. O’Connor has found peace.
❣️
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