Sinead O'Connor's father recalls their last trip and the pain of losing her
The Nothing Compares 2 U singer passed away in July 2023 with her two-year anniversary coming up next Saturday (July 26).
The singer's death certificate confirmed her death was a result of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Sean O'Connor in the funeral cortege of his daughter Sinead. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
Sinead's death stunned fans worldwide, with her father Sean revealing he 'cried my eyes out for a fortnight' and still misses his beloved daughter.
Speaking to Oliver Callan on RTÉ Radio 1 on Thursday morning, the 87-year-old told the presenter he visits Sinead's grave every week to 'bring her up to date.'
Sean revealed his daughter's grave is simple and was designed by another one of his daughters, Eimear. @rteradio1 'I still miss her.' Seán O'Connor, father of the late singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor, joined #OliverCallan ♬ original sound – rteradio1
'It's more to do with the fans than her family,' he said, 'Her family is in the heart.'
Asked how he was by Sinead's side during the turbulent times of her career, Sean revealed there was nothing he could do but be there for her.
'In the end, I always had a feeling of compassion for her,' he said, 'She was always on the edge. We got on really well, most of the time, and sometimes she'd fall out with me.' Sean O'Connor with his children Sinead, Joseph and Eimear at the launch of Dublin: One City One Book in 2011. Pic: Fran Veale
Sean recalled one of his final memories with his daughter, when the pair headed away for a staycation to Wexford in January 2023.
He remembered: 'We went down to the holiday, checking in two rooms and we went off for a drive and we came back and I had been upgraded.
'I had a suite — and chocolates [and] a bunch of flowers. You couldn't go anywhere with Sinead, somebody would come over, 'Oh, Sinead love. How are ya?''
Sean told Oliver how the duo had planned to go away again in April but Sinead opted to head to England instead.
'I'm beginning to deal with it now,' he said of the loss of his daughter.
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