SineadOConnorSoundovers

August 2001
"Mother-of-two Sinead O'Connor, who in recent years had declared herself to be gay, has married her journalist boyfriend, The BBC reports.

The 35-year-old singer married Press Association reporter Nick Sommerland, 27. The couple met in February last year, when Sommerland moved to Dublin for work and was introduced to the singer. He proposed in June, The BBC said.

O'Connor recently ended a two-year relationship with diarist Dermot Hayes. Prior to that, she had been involved with Irish Times columnist John Waters, who fathered her five-year-old daughter, Roisin.

The singer is divorced from writer John Reynolds, who fathered her 13-year-old son Jake."

Alternative singer-songwriter Sinead O'Connor was born in Dublin, Ireland, on December 8, 1966 and grew up in a turbulent household marred by divorce and abuse.

From the point of light within the mind of God
Let light stream forth into the minds of men.
Let light descend on earth
From the point of love within the heart of God
Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.
May the Christ return to earth
From the centre where the will of God is known
Let purpose guide the little wills of men
The purpose which the masters know and serve
From the centre which we call the race of men
Let the plan of love and light work out
And may it seal the door where evil dwells
Let love and light and power restore the plan on earth.

By the time she was a teenager, Sinead had been expelled from Catholic school and sent away to reform school for shoplifting. However, unlike many young people in such a place, instead of heading down the wrong path, Sinead found solace in music, and, as luck would have it, was discovered by the drummer of In Tua Nua while singing at a relative's wedding.

After co-writing a few songs with that band (who were close friends of Irish rockers U2), Sinead began a solo career, performing in local coffeehouses and studying voice and piano at the Dublin College of Music. By 1985 she had signed to Ensign Records and moved to London, where she recorded her debut album, 1987's The Lion and the Cobra. The record won copious praise in the music press, and spawned the alternative radio hit "Mandinka." With the release of 1990's acclaimed "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got," Sinead became an alternative rock superstar, thanks both to the album's hit single "Nothing Compares 2 U" (a Prince cover) and her increasingly controversial opinions, which she never hesitated to share with the world.

Head shaved, Sinead appeared regularly in the American press for saying things like she supported the IRA, hated U2, and would not perform if the "Star Spangled Banner" were played before any of her concerts; she also made waves by refusing to perform on Saturday Night Live when she found out the guest host that night was controversial comedian Andrew Dice Clay (known for making sexist jokes). In addition, she refused to accept the four Grammy nominations she received for I Do Not Want.... Perhaps in response to her critics, Sinead titled her next album, a tamer effort that came out in 1992, "Am I Not Your Girl?." Unfortunately, its release was overshadowed by a legendary appearance on Saturday Night Live during which Sinead ended her set by tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II and shouting "Fight the real enemy!", much to the shock of conservative politicians, church officials, and many of her Catholic fans.

Not surprisingly, Sinead avoided the spotlight for the next two years, studying opera in Dublin, appearing in a production of Hamlet, and touring with the WOMAD Festival. In 1994 she returned with "Universal Mother," which, despite its good reviews, was still stigmatized by her controversial past.

By the time the "Gospel Oak" EP came out in 1997, Sinead had finally transcended her pariah status, emerging as an elder stateswoman for edgy female singer-songwriters, highlighted by her appearance at the 1998 Lilith Fair.

!! MESSAGE BY SINEAD !!
Hello Lovelies,

This is a message from sinead. This being a very special anniversary for me, I have chosen it to announce that as of July 2003 I shall be retiring from the music business. In order to pursue a different career.
The last recordings I will make will be (believe it or not) a track for Dolly Parton's upcoming tribute album and a track for sharon Shannon's forthcoming album. These will be recorded in May.
In July I will be releasing a DVD of a live show and documentary featuring tracks from way back along with tracks fom Sean Nos Nua. The DVD will be entitled "Goodnight, thankyou. You've been a lovely audience."
And so ye have.
I wish here to thank everyone who has been a fan and or supporter of mine over the last twenty two years in the music business (first record at 14, deal at 17. Half o first album wrote when 15). As well as all the people whom I have had the honour of working with. Not least the great Dolly Parton herself!
Thanks to all of ye for a great time and a great education.
I would request that as of July, since I seek no longer to be a "famous" person, and instead I wish to live a "normal" life, could people please afford me my privacy. By which I mean I would like not to have exploition of my self or my name or anyone connected with me by newspapers.
I also mean that (with love) I want to be like any other person in the street and not have people say there is Sinead O'Connor. As I am a very shy person, believe it or not. So I ask with love, that I be left in peace and privacy by people who love my records too. And I hope it doesnt sound rude. It aint meant rude. I am glad that ye are helped by my songs. So help me too, by giving me what is best for me, a private life.
My advise to anyone who ever admires a so called "celebrity" if u see them in the street, dont even look at them. If u love them, then the lovingest thing u can do to show them so is leave them alone and don't stare at them! Or bang on restauraunt windows when they in there. Or make them get their picture taken, or write their names on bits of paper. That's pieces of them.
And one day they wake up with nothing left of themselves to give.
Love, peace, and don't 4get to pray y'all.
Sinead

I know that I have done many things
to give you reason not to listen to me
- Sinead O'Connor 2000

Until the color of a man�s skin is of no more significance then the color of his eyes, I�ve got to say "war". - S.O'Connor

The mid nineties were a time of dificulty for Sinead. A failed marriage, A second relationship also ending horribly, two children, custody battles, battles with the press, battles with herself, and battles with God, and all enacted with typical wild child flair while the public ate it all up. She railed against the Catholic Church and flirted with lesbianism. She sang the praises of Rastafarianism, and stumped for every controversial cause that came her way. But along the way she began to change...

In 2000, Sinead signed to Atlantic records and announced the impending release of her first album in six years, "Faith & Courage."

In 2002 a very different, Sinead began to appear. In interviews, she revealed a new and more mature demeanor.. No longer did she want to vent her anger by confessing all the bad experiences of her life, or rehashing the mistakes. She referred to her "f'ing past," as just that...her past and preferred to discuss her music publicaly and her family privately.

In 1999, Sinead, who had spent most of her life railing against the Catholic Church once again rocked the ranks with her ordination as a Catholic priest by a renegade order of the church in France.

May 2003
Once again, Sinead O'Connor shook up her public by announcing that she was retiring from the music business to pursue new interests, and raise her family in peace.