Sinead O'Connor, live at The Olympia

In the fading grandeur of Dublin’s Olympia Theatre, intense curiosity, expectation and excitement pervade the air. Which aspect of Sinead shall we meet tonight? The fragile girl-woman, ever on the verge of being crushed by her mental agonies? The manic street preacher burning with religious or sexual fervour? Or the awesomely powerful feminist icon, archetype of warrior motherhood?

My first thought as Sinead takes the stage, gorgeously curvaceous in tight black leather pants and a black corset, is that she has the look of someone who’s being really well-loved. She shines. What follows is nearly two hours of breathtaking diva at her most divine.

Flanked by a large array of superb musicians – including a female guitarist and a female bass player, each six-feet tall, who stand just behind Sinead on either side like elegant trees – Ireland’s ultimate singer-songwriter runs through darkly atmospheric versions of classics like ‘Stretched’, ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ and ‘Troy’, interspersed with three or four exquisitely beautiful new songs which stir up a high sense of excitement about next February’s new album.

“I was always crazy,” Sinead sings sorrowfully in one of the new ones, expressing the vulnerability and honesty that are the hallmarks of her work. “I had a baby/ When he asks about you/ I don’t know what to tell him/ I wish I wasn’t so crazy.” The cycles of anger and healing, pain and its transformation into wisdom – I can think of no other songwriter who captures this particular aspect of the human condition so poignantly.

In an evening of delicious treats, it is especially lovely to be introduced to Roisin, Sinead’s beautiful daughter, who sings angelic backing vocals.
Days later, I and my friends who were at the gig – we’ve been Sinead fans for over two decades now – still feel joyful and uplifted by her music. It is inspirational how this legendary woman pulls herself back from the abyss over and over again to produce spine-tinglingly great music. A phoenix from the flame...