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Figure of singer Sinéad O'Connor unveiled at Wax Museum

The National Wax Museum said the sculpture 'captures her essence and spirit, celebrating her legacy and influence'
The National Wax Museum said the sculpture 'captures her essence and spirit, celebrating her legacy and influence'

Sinéad O'Connor has been honoured with a figure at the National Wax Museum in Dublin city centre, a day before the first anniversary of her death last summer.

The figure was "meticulously crafted by skilled artist PJ Heraghty," and "captures her essence and spirit, celebrating her legacy and influence," the museum said.

"We are deeply honoured to pay tribute to Sinead O'Connor with this new wax figure," said its director Paddy Dunning.

"I met Sinéad 40 years ago when she walked into Temple Lane Studios for the first time when she was 17 and I was 18. We'd been great friends and close since that first meeting."

The figure stands in front of one depicting Liam Neeson in his Star Wars role as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn.

Sinéad O'Connor was 21 when she released her startling debut, The Lion and the Cobra, which included the radio-friendly hit Mandinka and fan favourite Troy.

Soon afterwards came I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, and the world-conquering single Nothing Compares 2 U, with its iconic video showing a tear spontaneously rolling down the singer's cheek.

Sinéad at the Irish Choice Music Awards last year

Superstardom beckoned, but Sinéad was denounced in the US when, in an effort to highlight clerical sexual abuse of children, she ripped up a picture of the Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live.

When she died last year of natural causes, aged 56, many paid tribute to what was seen in retrospect as a courageous act to protect those who could not protect themselves.

I Do Not Want What I Have Not Got was awarded the inaugural RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Classic Album last year.