Yesterday evening it was confirmed that Irish music icon, Sinéad O'Connor, had passed away, aged 56.

A statement from the singer's family asked for privacy at this time.

As the nation fell into a state of grief, tributes were, and continue to be, shared across social media. The news seeped further afield, rightfully garnering international attention. Both at home and overseas, beautiful words about the legacy Sinéad leaves behind were written, from fellow musicians and fans alike.

The President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins released a statement detailing the loss the nation of Ireland is feeling.

"May I send my deepest condolences to Sinéad O’Connor’s father John, the members of her family and to all those with whom she shared her life," the statement begins.

"My first reaction on hearing the news of Sinéad’s loss was to remember her extraordinarily beautiful, unique voice. What was striking in all of the recordings she made and in all of her appearances was the authenticity of the performance, while her commitment to the delivery of the song and its meaning was total.

"To those of us who had the privilege of knowing her, one couldn’t but always be struck by the depth of her fearless commitment to the important issues which she brought to public attention, no matter how uncomfortable those truths may have been.

"What Ireland has lost at such a relatively young age is one of our greatest and most gifted composers, songwriters and performers of recent decades, one who had a unique talent and extraordinary connection with her audience, all of whom held such love and warmth for her.

"The way in which she was able to move across the different forms of the arts was a singular achievement, as was the way her voice went around the world and how it was received. Her accomplishments included a body of work for film through the production of perfectly chosen and widely acclaimed lyrics.

"Sinéad O’Connor’s voice and delivery was in so many different ways original, extraordinary and left one with a deep deep impression that to have accomplished all she did while carrying the burden which she did was a powerful achievement in its own way.

"Her contribution joins those great contributions of Irish women who contributed to our lives, its culture and its history in their own unique but unforgettable ways.

"May her spirit find the peace she sought in so many different ways.”

Sinéad O'Connor in NOTHING COMPARES. Photo credit: Andrew Catlin/Courtesy of SHOWTIME.

Tributes from Sinéad's fellow musicians have also poured in.

"Sinead was a force of nature," Tori Amos tweeted. "A brilliant songwriter & performer whose talent we will not see the like of again. Such passion, such intense presence & a beautiful soul, who battled her own personal demons courageously. Be at peace dear Sinead, you will forever be in our hearts."

"Sinead was the true embodiment of a punk spirit. She did not compromise and that made her life more of a struggle. Hoping that she has found peace," Tim Burgess wrote.

“Fight the real enemy”- Sinead O’Connor
🕊️ 🤍

— Janelle Monáe👽🚆🤖🚀🪐 (@JanelleMonae) July 26, 2023

A simple - "I am heartbroken" - came from the American rock band, Garbage, while the English trip hop collective, Massive attack, released a in depth statement. It read: "Sinéad. Devastated. How do you eulogise someone that you never knew well, but were blessed to have the honour of working with? Honestly. To bear witness to her voice, intimately in the studio. On the road, every single person stopped - dropped their tools during soundcheck. The fire in her eyes made you understand that her activism was a souldful reflex & not a political gesture. 'Don't be afraid. Open your mouth to say. Say what your soul sings to you.'"

pic.twitter.com/6iscpvpjzJ

— Massive Attack (@MassiveAttackUK) July 26, 2023

Fergal, Mike, and Noel of The Cranberries expressed their sadness at the musician's passing, a devastation which matches the loss Ireland felt with Dolores O'Riordan's passing, as well. The three said: "We are shocked and saddened to hear of Sinead’s sudden passing. We have all been big fans for many years. Our thoughts are with her family. May she rest in peace."

Having recently lost another Irish legend, Christy Dignam, Aslan joined the musician's expressing their sorrow, tweeting: "Two Legends taken from us so closely together... No words... Rest in Peace Sinead."

The legend Sinead O’Connor is gone.
My dear friend, my mate, my sister
Can’t find the words yet
Tá mo chroí briste.#SineadOConnor pic.twitter.com/9Oy8oPBrK5

— Imelda May (@ImeldaOfficial) July 27, 2023

A surprising thread came from the actor Russell Crowe, who shared an evening spent with the late musician.

"Last year, working in Ireland, having a pint in the cold outside a Dalkey pub with some new friends, a woman with purpose strode past us. Puffy parker zipped to the nape and her bowed head covered in a scarf. One of my new friends muttered an exclamation, jumped up and pursued the woman," the actor explained. "Thirty metres down the road the friend and the woman embraced and he waived me over. There under streetlights with mist on my breath, I met Sinéad. She looked in my eyes, and uttered with disarming softness 'oh, it’s you Russell.'

"She came with us back to the table and sat in the cold and ordered a hot tea. In a conversation without fences we roamed through the recent Dublin heatwave, local politics, American politics, the ongoing fight for indigenous recognition in many places, but particularly in Australia, her warm memory of New Zealand, faith, music, movies and her brother the writer. I had the opportunity to tell her she was a hero of mine."

Crowe added: "When her second cup was taking on the night air, she rose, embraced us all and strode away into the fog-dimmed streetlights. We sat there the four of us and variously expressed the same thing. What an amazing woman.

"Peace be with your courageous heart Sinéad."

Flea, bassist of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, added his tribute late last night: "for all us street kids, for all us wildlings, when sinead got huge, it felt like one of us made it. It was incredible. im not trying to compare myself or anyone else to sinead, she is one of a kind, but thats what it felt like to me. like she was one of us. she was like billie holiday to me. All her pain, all her beauty, those incredible songs. she deserves sainthood."

From her musical career, to the feats of activism over her far too short a life, Twitter users poured out their thanks and apologies to the fearless woman.

Thank you for inspiring so many women and people Sinead. Your voice will never ever be matched. Nor will your voice of courage for generations of Irish people who were too afraid to speak up but you did. Nothing and no one will ever compare to you. 💔#SineadOConnor pic.twitter.com/ckDHzh6RH9

— Why Not Her? (@whynothereu) July 26, 2023

"I grew up in a changing Ireland, where the Church's influence was strong but waning, where it was still just becoming okay to be queer, where women's rights were still up for debate. I can't overstate how much we owe to Sinead for driving that progress at personal cost," twitter user Danny Rigg wrote.

Toryn Caitriona Glavin added: "Every Irish queer, woman, and outcast is surely feeling Sinéad’s passing tonight. Back in 2017 when I worked for TENI we got a call from her management asking could she donate her closet to us to as she was downsizing and wanted the clothes to go to trans folk in need. An icon."

"'Nothing Compares 2U' used to be on the Syrian national TV during the nightly broadcast in the 90s. It was better than the national anthem for many people... including me.. Sinead O'Connor touched the hearts of forgotten people. Love you forever," Irish-Syrian journalist, Razan Ibraheem, commented.

I can’t begin to describe what Sinéad meant to me and my friends growing up in a conservative Irish Catholic town in the 90s. She was the first I heard speak openly and vulnerably about abortion, mental health, child abuse, misogyny in the church. She was a fearless truth teller.

— Rebekah McCabe (@rebekahmccabe_) July 26, 2023

Of all the outpourings of love all over Twitter feeds around the country, one moment in the musician's incredibly successful career has been brought up time and time again - the time a 26-year-old O'Connor tore up a picture of the pope in protest of child abuse in the Catholic Church, while performing as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live.

in 1992, sinead o’connor shocked the producers of SNL when at the end of her performance, she tore up a photo of the pope to protest child sex abuse in the church. her career was totally derailed and the church’s abuse did not re-enter the national spotlight for another 10 years pic.twitter.com/MwfO73qSZv

— matt (@mattxiv) July 26, 2023

The image of her captured on the show opened the singer to a barrage of criticism, but now, an embrace of love and respect.

"Heartbreaking news. Just watched a band incorporate her SNL performance into their projected backdrop last night. Her influence is certain. She endured undeserved criticism for it at the time. It endeared me to her. I was a fan from then. Such a powerful voice, & a great loss," Ray Burke tweeted.

Heartbreaking news. Just watched a band incorporate her SNL performance into their projected backdrop last night. Her influence is certain. She endured undeserved criticism for it at the time. It endeared me to her. I was a fan from then. Such a powerful voice, & a great loss 💔 pic.twitter.com/ZGVxM0atw5

— Ray Burke (@Leftofthedialr) July 26, 2023

"This country owes Sinéad O'Connor the BIGGEST apology," @ciaraxr_ added.

"i hope her soul rests but her memory haunts this island for what it does to women who speak truth to power," Sarah Maria Griff furthered.

Journalist Sarah Smarsh hit the nail on the head with her message: "Perhaps Sinead O'Connor wasn't a tragic woman. Perhaps this is a tragic world, and she was one of the few sane among us. Her artistry & bravery is what lasts, not least the moment for which she was most attacked; I was a 12-year-old Catholic girl watching SNL, and I am grateful."

While the tributes varied, one thing has been left for certain, the world will deeply miss the legendary Sinéad O'Connor.

In a beautiful message from Keith Walsh, the broadcaster and writer succinctly put exactly what we're all feeling: "Ah, Sinead. I wish you knew how much we all loved you."

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an outpouring of grief like this both nationally and internationally for an Irish artist in my lifetime

— sinéad🌻 (@gobblefunkerr) July 26, 2023

Below, you can hear some words from Hot Press editor, Niall Stokes, along with many others, on the legend of Sinéad O'Connor.

Rest in Peace, Sinéad.

Tributes have been pouring in for Sinéad O'Connor following the news of her sudden death.

President Michael D Higgins said she had an extraordinarily beautiful and unique voice, while fellow musicians also paid tribute | Read more: https://t.co/KzFrzzuaNP pic.twitter.com/3lxf5MmHpB

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 26, 2023