Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
WHILE THERE ARE no plans for a monument to beloved music artist Sinéad O’Connor in Wicklow in the works at the moment, it’s not something that has been ruled out, Leas Cathaoirleach of the Bray Municipal District Erika Doyle said.
Last Friday, 26 July, marked one year since the star’s passing in London. To honour this the day prior, the National Wax Museum in Dublin unveiled a waxwork in O’Connor’s likeness – only to be immediately hit by waves of backlash from fans across the country and beyond.
The sculpture was pulled from the exhibition the following day, as Sinéad’s brother John O’Connor phoned into RTÉ’s Liveline to express his unhappiness with the waxwork.
“I thought it was hideous,” he said, adding that a statue of the singer in Dublin city would be a more appropriate tribute.
In Dublin, current policy dictates that a person must be deceased 20 years before a statue can be erected in their honour. On Thursday, The Irish Mirror reported that Lord Mayor James Geoghegan supported calls for a policy change that would allow the council to erect a monument in her honour much sooner.
The idea of a monument to O’Connor being placed in Bray, Co Wicklow, where no such policy exists has also been touted, though Green Party councillor and Leas Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District Erika Doyle told The Journal that there were “no plans” for such currently in the works.
“We started hearing suggestions and comments about this immediately after Sinéad’s death,” Doyle said. “Her former home on Bray Seafront became the focal point for people gathering.
“We all loved her, and we miss her, and in terms of there being anything from monuments or anything like that erected, no, there hasn’t been a conversation, and even when that happens, it will need to come and be led very much by the family.”
Customarily, monuments in Bray take the form of benches, Doyle said.
O’Connor still has immediate and extended family members in Bray, the councillor said, and any monument to her will be done “in consultation with the family and very much respect the family’s wishes”.
“At present, no, there are no plans. That’s not to say it won’t happen, but I think when it happens, it needs to be done right,” Doyle concluded, adding that she was a lifelong fan of the singer.
“I think I would love to see a little bit of her legacy live on in Bray in the form of a permanent memorial.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
There are dozens of people I could think of, that deserve a statue erected to their memories. So why the sudden rush for Sinead O Connor??
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: I imagine because a statue in honour of her has more recently been proposed due to the monstrosity of that wax work. You might have ideas for statues of other people but I doubt that’ll get the ball rolling. Between her music and her activism on women’s rights, speaking out against sexism and misogyny, and supporting Irish nationalism and human rights, she’s deserving.
@Jack Hayes: Speaking out against sexism and misogyny… then why did she convert to be a Muslim, probably the largest patriarchal religion there is.
@Pad: Agree with you 100 % Pad,
Sinead went for Sinead and wherever there was notoriety, headlines, and shillings for Sinead!! I disagree with plenty of things but I don’t make a public spectacle of myself on TV or denounce the religion of the majority of the country that gave me life!!
@Pad: ! Wow, you missed her! Were you away on the moon or locked in a monastery or are you really old ? She represents whole generation of people who brought Ireland out of the dark ages. She’s very important to Irish Gen x.
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: a monument to bitterness could be erected and named after yourself and pad ..
@offside again: that’s your opinion and you are entitled to it, just as we are. Just because we don’t conform to your singular opinion…. we are wrong??
@Pad: I get the catholic bit now ! The righteousness and taking the moral highground from the biggest hypocrites Ireland has ever had ..
@offside again: nah…Good definition of woke eejits though…
@Finian McG: what’s woke ? Is it like ‘I woke up this morning’ ?
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: just creeps
@Pad: she stood up for all the victims of clerical abuse.
Only last week are we hearing of casey a vile individual, protected by the church.
And everyone in kerry knew he had a kid and covered it up.
@helen mary fitzsimons: Pray tell me what did she do to bring Ireland out of the dark ages??
Very important to Irish Gen X? Are you for real???
Her music should be her monument. Not some politically motivated show to unveil a statue.
@AnthonyK: Idolatry is in a man’s own thought, not in the opinion of another – John Selden.
Why is there not a monument to Zig and Zag out in donnybrook
@noel donohue: Or Godmother from wonderly wagon.
@noel donohue:
What about the great late Gay Byrne who entertained the country for yrs.
Sinéad will never be forgotten, monument or not.
@offside again:
Sinéad Who
@Brian Barry: edgy ..
Good to hear
She had an amazing voice when she was younger but was clearly very mentally ill.
There are already multiple statues of Sinead all over the country — they have been erected in our hearts.
Stick a photo on her headstone, that should suffice.
@Dave Barrett: ‘Here lies Dave Barrett, of unknown origins, unheard of accomplishments, unregretted and quickly forgotten. RIP.
Mediocrity deserves a pedestal? I really felt sorry for her son. Her new religion didn’t save her either.
Wicklow it should be.
A statue to Sinead O’Connor should not be erected in Dublin City or in Bray. It should be erected in her native town of Dun Laoghaire.
She was a Glenageary girl, a statue in Dun Laoire’d be the most apt place I think.
Build the feckin statue now
@Sean Money: on the tip of bray head so
@Sean Money: like the big Jesus one in Brazil overlooking the sea. The tourists would love it and a great memorial.
have your say