sinead o connor

In 1982, the fouteen-year old Sinead made her musical debut when she sang on and co-wrote a single by Dublin rock band in Tua Nua. This was an auspicious start and was followed by a brief stint in an outfit called Ton Ton Macoute before the young Sinead was eventually signed by Ensign Records to make an album of her own material.

It was during her time with Ton Ton Macoute that Sinead could be seen waitressing in one of Dublin's popular eateries, The Bad Ass Café in Crown Alley.

"The Lion and The Cobra" was released in 1987 and stands as a prodigious achievement for such a young and inexperienced artist. The LP made Sinead a star and her shaven head and waif-like visage appeared on magazine covers throughout the world. But it was the follow-up album, "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got", which propelled her to megastar state. Her version of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2U" was a global number one and Sinead instantly became rock's hottest property.

It's certainly been a long strange trip for the young woman who started her recording career by singing traditional Irish songs into her father's dictaphone. She also has a fascination with the film business and made a brief appearance as the Virgin Mary in Neil Jordan's "The Butcher Boy", an Irish film based on Pat McCabes novel.

Sinead was ordained as a priest of the Tridentine Church and now goes by the name of Mother Bernadette O'Connor. She will keep her name Sinead for performing.