Nothing compared: Sinéad O'Connor fans recall impact late singer had on their life at Limerick gathering

IT’S BEEN seven hours and four days since she took our love away. While Brian Hayes kneels to lay flowers in front of a black and white mural on Arthur’s Quay, fans of Sinéad O’Connor shelter from torrential rain as they gather to mourn the loss of an incomparable talent. Incense wafts through the air as a woman walks through the crowd.

Between tributes - and perhaps to take a stand, and as an ode to the artist’s rebellious nature - a young woman shaves the side of her head.

There is not a dry eye in the crowd as singers and musicians offer their renditions of Sinéad’s songs. But hands clap the loudest after a young woman belts out Nothing Compares 2U accompanied by a guitar, before stripping it back to an a cappella version.

Like many, Niamh O’Mahony from Caherdavin joined the gathering to say goodbye to one of Ireland’s greatest singers, whose soundtrack has been part of her life since the early 90s.

“She's always meant something to me since I was a teenager. I think one of the things that's come across this week when people say that she was misunderstood, I think she was the opposite,” Niamh says.

The emotion in her eyes speak louder than her words. “I think Sinéad understood everything, just like the people who are here today. We understood her, and she spoke up for all of the women of the country who were affected by the State and for their children. She spoke up for all minorities, and I just think she deserves the show of respect today. As a woman, I just wanted to say goodbye and thank you.”

Her daughter stands by her side under an umbrella. “We share a huge love for music. Female artists are just really important to us as women, because they have a different perspective to the male artists that are out there. Sinéad was such a trailblazer, she can’t be ignored. To lose her...” she pauses. “It really hits hard, so we wanted to say goodbye.”

Sinéad’s words also resonated deeply with Limerick city artist, RaYche.

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“She represented everybody who was going through a struggle growing up. She did it in a very brave way, and unfortunately, she suffered because of it. But we always needed somebody like her and like I just feel gutted that she's actually left us. She was so iconic, she was somebody so important. Even when she was suffering, she still said what she wanted to say just to help other people, it was always to help others,” noted RaYche.

The organiser of ‘Remembering Sinéad O’Connor’, journalism student Molly Cantwell felt an event had to take place in Limerick.

"Limerick is such a hub of like music and culture. There's so much diversity here that I felt it was so important that we remembered Sinéad’s message in some way here. We have such a rich history with like Dolores O’Riordan passing away a few years ago as well, I felt like we had to do something. There was nothing being done this end of the country, so a lot of people traveled up for it.”

Molly first heard of the artist and activist thanks to her grandparents.

“When I was young, my grandparents were trad musicians. They used to have trad circles in the sitting room all the time,” she recalls.

“One of my favourite songs growing up was Scarlet Ribbons. I used to sit right in the middle of the circle, turn on the CD player and sing along to Sinéad. There's very few other people that influenced my musical upbringing the way that she did,” says Molly.

Irish people aren’t the only ones mourning the loss of their rebellious sister. Sinéad’s music knew no bounds and was loved worldwide. Including in Costa Rica, where Hardy Torres is originally from.

“She’s a big influence. I remember very well when she appeared on the scene. Her first success, Nothing Compares 2U, for all those years it’s been a nice song for us as a couple. We’ve been together for 27 years, and we always try to listen to it. So, it’s important for my wife and I to be here,” says Hardy before exchanging a glance with his loved one.

While reading a poem her idol wrote in June 1983 in the form of a full-page advertisement in The Irish Times, a woman cannot fight her tears.

“My name is Sinéad O'Connor. I am learning to love myself. I am deserving. I deserve to be treated with respect. I deserve not to be treated like dirt. I deserve to be listened to. I am a member of the human race. I deserve not to be hurt. My name is Sinéad O'Connor. I am a woman. I have something to offer,” reads the woman. And the rain still patters. But then, for a split second, a wavering beam of sunlight hits the crowd, almost as if Sinéad was finally heard.

The portrait of a shaven-headed 20 year-old female icon will forever be imprinted on our minds, because one thing is certain - nothing compared to her.