Singer Sinéad O’Connor died in 2023. Photo: Getty
A Dublin councillor has backed previous calls for a statue of Sinéad O’Connor to be erected in the city, as there is a “lack of representation of female statues”.
Sinn Fein councillor Leslie Kane, who represents the Ballymun-Finglas area, is seeking a statue in honour of the legendary Nothing Compares 2 U singer, who died at the age of 56 in 2023.
Calling for the statue, Ms Kane said the history of important Irish women is not “visible” in Dublin.
“There’s a lack of representation of female statues in the city,” Ms Kane told the Journal.ie.
“It’s something I would like to see more of. Residents in my area have been onto me as well regarding the issue – it’s something that’s close to people’s hearts.”
In August last year, former Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan backed calls for a statue of Sinéad O’Connor in Dublin.
While Dublin City Council currently has a 20-year policy for allowing a monument to be erected, Mr Geoghegan said we should consider changing those rules to honour the singer, who was born in Dublin.
Mr Geoghegan, who has since been elected to the Dail, said that if there was ever someone for whom “rules should be broken” to ensure a statue is built, it is Sinéad O’Connor.
“There is a longstanding rule in Dublin City Council that you can’t build a statue or a memorial for someone unless they have been deceased for 20 years,” said Mr Geoghegan.
“If ever there was someone the rules should be broken for, Sinéad O’Connor is that person.”
The support came after a waxwork of the singer had to be removed following backlash from the public and her family, who claimed it looked “nothing like her”.
Her brother, John, said an appropriate way to honour the Irish music icon would be with a statue.
At the time, Mr Geoghegan added: “It would be nice to turn what was a negative controversy about her wax sculpture into something positive that could involve Sinéad’s family and pay tribute to her legacy.”
