History of Sinéad O'Connor in Timeline
Sinéad O'Connor (Shuhada' Sadaqat) was a celebrated Irish singer-songwriter and activist known for her powerful vocals and outspoken views. She gained international recognition with her debut album, *The Lion and the Cobra* (1987). Her most commercially successful album, *I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got* (1990), sold millions globally and featured the hit single "Nothing Compares 2 U," which topped the Billboard charts. O'Connor was known for her distinctive shaved head and her willingness to challenge societal norms and express her beliefs, often generating controversy.
1939: Birth of Johanna Marie O'Grady
In 1939, Johanna Marie O'Grady, Sinéad O'Connor's mother, was born.
1960: Marriage of Parents
In 1960, John Oliver "Seán" O'Connor and Johanna Marie O'Grady were married in Dublin.
December 1966: Sinéad O'Connor Born
In December 1966, Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor was born in Dublin, Ireland, named after Sinéad de Valera and Saint Bernadette of Lourdes.
1976: Father's marriage
In 1976, Sinéad O'Connor's father married Viola Margaret Suiter in Alexandria, Virginia, United States.
1976: The original Photo
In 1976, the photograph of Pope John Paul II, which O'Connor tore up, was taken.
1979: Moved to live with her father
In 1979, at age 13, O'Connor went to live with her father after he returned to Ireland.
1984: Joined Ton Ton Macoute
In mid-1984, O'Connor met Colm Farrelly through an ad she placed in Hot Press. Together they recruited a few other members and formed a band, Ton Ton Macoute.
February 1985: Death of Sinéad O'Connor's Mother
In February 1985, O'Connor's mother died in a car accident at the age of 45.
1985: Attended Newtown School
In 1985, Sinéad O'Connor did not sit the Leaving Certificate.
1985: Did not sit Leaving Certificate
Sinéad O'Connor attended Maryfield College in Drumcondra, and Newtown School in Waterford for fifth and sixth year as a boarder, but did not sit the Leaving Certificate in 1985.
1987: Release of The Lion and the Cobra
In 1987, O'Connor's first album, The Lion and the Cobra, was released on Chrysalis Records and was a sensation. The single "Mandinka" was a college radio hit in the United States, and "I Want Your (Hands on Me)" received both college and urban play in a remixed form.
1988: First US Television Appearance
In 1988, O'Connor made her first US network television appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, singing "Mandinka".
1989: Guest Vocals and Film Role
In 1989, O'Connor provided guest vocals on The The's album Mind Bomb, on the duet "Kingdom of Rain" and also starred in and wrote the music for the Northern Irish film Hush-a-Bye-Baby.
July 1990: Performance of The Wall in Berlin
In July 1990, O'Connor joined Roger Waters and other guests for a performance of The Wall in Berlin. She also contributed a cover of "You Do Something to Me" to the album Red Hot + Blue. Her album of covers, Am I Not Your Girl?, received mixed reviews and was a commercial disappointment. Her cover of "Sacrifice" was acclaimed on Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin.
1990: Release of I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
In 1990, O'Connor released the album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, which became her biggest commercial success, selling over seven million copies worldwide, and featured the hit single "Nothing Compares 2 U".
1990: Boycott of National Anthem and Criticism
In 1990, O'Connor stated she would not perform if the United States national anthem was played before her concerts due to her belief that the American music industry was racist. This led to attacks, criticism from celebrities like Frank Sinatra, and protests where her albums were steamrolled.
February 1991: Won IRMA Award
In February 1991, Sinéad O'Connor accepted the Irish IRMA award.
October 1992: Saturday Night Live Protest
On October 3, 1992, O'Connor tore up a photograph of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live as a protest against the Roman Catholic Church's handling of child abuse, sparking significant controversy.
1992: Success with Am I Not Your Girl?
In 1992, O'Connor achieved chart success with her album Am I Not Your Girl?, which was later certified gold in the UK.
1992: Contribution to Peter Gabriel's Album
In 1992, O'Connor contributed vocals on the songs "Come Talk to Me" and "Blood of Eden" from the album Us by Peter Gabriel.
1992: SNL Protest Reaction
In 1992, O'Connor's SNL protest led to widespread criticism and mockery, but Time later named her the most influential woman of the year for her actions. O'Connor wrote in her 2021 memoir, Rememberings, that she did not regret the protest.
1992: Saturday Night Live Protest
In 1992, Sinéad O'Connor tore up a photograph of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live to protest against child abuse in the Catholic Church, sparking considerable controversy.
May 1993: Guardian Interview
In May 1993, O'Connor reported in an interview with The Guardian that she was studying bel canto singing and that the lessons were the only therapy she was receiving.
June 1993: Public Letter in The Irish Times
In June 1993, O'Connor wrote a public letter in The Irish Times detailing her family issues and accusations of child abuse.
1993: Featured in In the Name of the Father Soundtrack
In 1993, O'Connor's song "You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart" was featured in the soundtrack to the film In the Name of the Father.
1994: Success with Universal Mother
In 1994, O'Connor achieved chart success with her album Universal Mother, which was later certified gold in the UK.
1995: Touring and Pregnancy
In 1995, O'Connor toured with Lollapalooza but dropped out when she became pregnant with her second child.
1997: Release of Gospel Oak EP
In 1997, O'Connor released the Gospel Oak EP.
December 1999: Suicide Attempt
On December 8, 1999, Sinéad O'Connor attempted suicide on her 33rd birthday, an event she later discussed publicly.
1999: Ordination as Mother Bernadette Mary
In 1999, Sinéad O'Connor was ordained as a priest by Bishop Michael Cox of an Independent Catholic church, taking the religious name Mother Bernadette Mary. This occurred after she expressed a desire to be a Catholic priest on The Late Late Show.
2000: Release of Faith and Courage
In 2000, O'Connor released the album Faith and Courage, which was certified gold in Australia.
2000: Claim of Being Lesbian
In 2000, during an interview in Curve, Sinéad O'Connor stated that she was a lesbian, which later became a point of retraction and re-evaluation in her public statements.
October 2002: Christian Faith and Overcoming Abuse
In October 2002, Sinéad O'Connor credited her Christian faith with giving her the strength to overcome the effects of her childhood abuse.
2003: Music Break Due to Fibromyalgia
In 2003, Sinéad O'Connor took a break from music due to the pain and fatigue caused by fibromyalgia.
2005: Release of Throw Down Your Arms
In 2005, O'Connor's album Throw Down Your Arms achieved gold status in Ireland.
2005: Return to Music
In 2005, Sinéad O'Connor returned to making music after taking a break from 2003 due to fibromyalgia.
2005: Reassessment of Sexuality
In 2005, Sinéad O'Connor told Entertainment Weekly that she considered herself "three-quarters heterosexual, a quarter gay", revising her earlier statement about being a lesbian.
July 2007: Affirmation of Christian Beliefs
In July 2007, Sinéad O'Connor stated in an interview with Christianity Today that she considered herself a Christian and believed in the core Christian concepts of the Trinity and Jesus Christ.
October 2007: Disclosure of Suicide Attempt and Bipolar Disorder
On an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show broadcast in October 2007, Sinéad O'Connor disclosed that she had attempted suicide on her 33rd birthday and had since been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
2007: Purchase of Bray Home
In 2007, Sinéad O'Connor purchased a large Victorian seafront house in Bray, County Wicklow, near Dublin, marking a significant move in her life and career at that time.
March 2010: Speaking Out Against Catholic Abuse Scandal
In March 2010, Sinéad O'Connor spoke out against the Catholic sexual abuse scandal in Ireland on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360° and published an opinion piece in The Washington Post about the scandal and her time in a Magdalene laundry. She labeled the Vatican as "a nest of devils" in the Sunday Independent.
2013: Open Letter to Miley Cyrus
In 2013, Sinéad O'Connor published an open letter to Miley Cyrus, warning her about the treatment of women in the music industry following Cyrus's "Wrecking Ball" music video release. Cyrus responded by mocking O'Connor, though she later apologized after O'Connor's death.
2014: Conflict with Prince
In 2014, Sinéad O'Connor recounted a negative experience with Prince, the writer of "Nothing Compares 2 U". She claimed he summoned her to his home, criticized her swearing, and became violent, leading her to flee. The encounter, detailed in her memoir, included bizarre behavior such as serving unwanted soup and a violent pillow fight. The events happened in 2014.
2014: Refusal to Play in Israel
In 2014, Sinéad O'Connor refused to perform in Israel as a protest against the treatment of Palestinians, expressing her sympathy for their plight.
August 2015: Hysterectomy and Subsequent Health Issues
In August 2015, Sinéad O'Connor announced that she was to undergo a hysterectomy due to gynaecological problems. She later attributed her subsequent mental health issues to the hospital's refusal to administer hormone replacement therapy post-operation, causing surgical menopause.
2015: Comments on British Rule in Ireland
In a 2015 interview with the BBC, Sinéad O'Connor expressed the controversial opinion that Ireland might have been better off remaining under British rule due to the influence of the Church.
2016: Rehabilitation for Cannabis Addiction
In 2016, Sinéad O'Connor, a cannabis smoker for 30 years, entered a rehabilitation center to address her addiction.
August 2017: Video About Mental Health Struggles
In August 2017, Sinéad O'Connor posted a 12-minute video on Facebook detailing her feelings of loneliness and suicidal thoughts since losing custody of her son, Shane.
August 2018: Request for Excommunication
In August 2018, Sinéad O'Connor, via an open letter, asked Pope Francis to issue a certificate of excommunication to her, having previously made the same request to Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II.
October 2018: Conversion to Islam
In October 2018, Sinéad O'Connor converted to Islam, calling it the "natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian's journey". She changed her name to Shuhada' Davitt, thanked fellow Muslims, and uploaded a video of herself reciting the adhan. She also posted photos wearing a hijab. The conversion happened in October 2018.
November 2018: Controversial Remarks After Conversion
In November 2018, after converting to Islam, Sinéad O'Connor, then known as Shuhada' Davitt, made controversial remarks on Twitter, calling non-Muslims "disgusting" and criticizing Christian and Jewish theologians.
2018: Conversion to Islam
In 2018, O'Connor converted to Islam and adopted the name Shuhada' Sadaqat, while continuing to perform and record under her birth name.
September 2019: Apology for Controversial Remarks
In September 2019, Sinéad O'Connor apologized for her controversial remarks made in November 2018, stating that they were a result of Islamophobia and were not true.
February 2020: Agoraphobia Diagnosis
In February 2020, Sinéad O'Connor revealed that she had been diagnosed with agoraphobia. She had also previously been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder.
2021: Memoir Release
In 2021, O'Connor wrote in her memoir, Rememberings, that she was regularly beaten by her mother.
2021: Release of Rememberings
In 2021, O'Connor's memoir, Rememberings, was released and became a bestseller.
2021: Treatment at St Patrick's University Hospital
In 2021, Sinéad O'Connor commented that she had spent much of the last six years in St Patrick's University Hospital in Dublin, expressing gratitude for the help she received.
2021: Sale of Bray Property
In 2021, Sinéad O'Connor sold her Victorian seafront house in Bray, County Wicklow, after temporarily relocating to her holiday home.
2022: Sale of Knockananna House
In 2022, Sinéad O'Connor sold her house on the main street of Knockananna, County Wicklow, adding another chapter to her residential history.
July 2023: Sinéad O'Connor's Death
In July 2023, Sinéad O'Connor, the Irish singer, songwriter, and activist, passed away.
July 2023: Death in London
Sinéad O'Connor passed away on July 26, 2023, at the age of 56 in her flat in Herne Hill, south London. The cause of death was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma.
2023: Death of Shane MacGowan
In 2023, Shane MacGowan from the Pogues passed away. A tribute concert for O'Connor and MacGowan was announced on January 9, 2024.
2023: Move to London and New Album
In early 2023, Sinéad O'Connor moved to a flat in London to combat loneliness and announced that she would soon finish her new album.
January 2024: Tribute Concert Announcement
On January 9, 2024, it was announced that a tribute concert for Sinéad O'Connor and Shane MacGowan would take place on March 20 in Carnegie Hall in New York City.
February 2024: Annie Lennox's Grammy Tribute
On February 4, 2024, Annie Lennox paid tribute to Sinéad O'Connor by performing "Nothing Compares 2 U" at the Grammy Awards. Lennox had a tear painted on her cheek, referencing the song's music video. She also called for a cease-fire in Gaza.
March 2024: Bratz Doll Announcement
In March 2024, a Bratz doll in Sinéad O'Connor's likeness was announced to commemorate Women's History Month.
2024: Posthumous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nomination
In 2024, O'Connor received a posthumous nomination for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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