SONG FOR SINEAD

FANS of Sinead O’Connor sang her most famous song at a poignant gathering to pay tribute to the late star

- KEITH FALKINER, DAVID YOUNG and NAOMI CLARK

Around 100 people joined together to sing Nothing Compares 2 U at the event in Dublin yesterday afternoon.

The lunchtime singalong in Barnardo Square was organised by socialist feminist group Rosa.

Activist and former Irish parliamentarian Ruth Coppinger paid tribute to the late singer.

She told the gathering: "An exceptional and unique voice that could be both a whisper or a scream in one line, she captivated audiences.

"She could traverse all genres. A body of work spanning four decades. Sinead's artistry and activism cannot be separated - they were essential to each other.

"Her artistic integrity and sense of justice came from her own experience of injustice.

"She was determined to use her music to blow the lid open on abuse, exploitation and oppression of every form.

"Poverty, war, institutional and interpersonal abuse, misogyny, racism, homophobia, transphobia - Sinead touched on them all and was vilified for doing so.