Featured Image Credit: Andrew Chin/Bobby Bank/Getty Images
Topics: Social media, Celebrity, Music, Real Life, Mental Health, Life
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Social media, Celebrity, Music, Real Life, Mental Health, Life
**Content warning: Contains references to suicide.**
Two of legendary Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor's final social media posts were a tribute to her 17-year-old son who died by suicide in 2022.
Yesterday (26 July), O'Connor's family confirmed that she had passed away at the age of 56.
A statement read: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad.
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"Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."
The 56-year-old - full name Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor - was born in Dublin in December, 1966.
She rose to fame in 1987 with the album The Lion And The Cobra and her best known song 'Nothing Compares 2 U' - written by Prince - followed soon after in her next album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got.
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As well as being a musician, O'Connor was a mother to four children: Jake Reynolds, Roisin Waters, Shane Lunny and Yeshua Bonadio.
Sadly, Shane - who O'Connor shared with musician Donal Lunny - passed away in January, 2022.
At the age of 17, Shane went missing for two days and was later discovered to have ended his own life.
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In the days after, O'Connor took to Twitter to acknowledge her son's death.
In a since-deleted post she wrote: "My beautiful son, Nevi'im Nesta Ali Shane O'Connor, the very light of my life, decided to end his earthly struggle today and is now with God.
"May he rest in peace and may no one follow his example. My baby. I love you so much. Please be at peace."
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Just 10 days ago, in a series of tweets which would be her last, O'Connor posted a photograph of her and Shane together, hugging one another.
Posted on 17 July in response to a tweet asking: "Tell me how your life is going with emojis," O'Connor shared a series of crying emojis.
The caption continues: "#lostmy17yrOldSonToSuicidein2022.
"Been living as undead night creature since. . He was the love of my life, the lamp of my soul. We were one soul in two halves.
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"He was the only person who ever loved me unconditionally. I am lost in the bardo without him."
O'Connor also shared a link to the 'Great Tibetan Compassion Mantra' dedicating the post to 'all mothers of suicided children'.
The cause of O'Connor's death has not yet been made public.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.