People from all around the world have paid their respects to the late Shane O’Connor, the son of Sinead O’Connor who was reported missing two days earlier.
Dublin Live reports that Shane MacGowan of the Pogues, Imelda May, and Alec Baldwin have all offered eulogies on social media.
Police and the mother of Shane, a 17-year-old from Tallaght, West Dublin, have launched a plea for his safe return.
Sinead tweeted yesterday, “My beautiful son, Nevi’im Nesta Ali Shane O’Connor, decided to end his earthly struggle today and is now with God.
“May he rest in peace and may no one follow his example.
“My baby. I love you so much. Please be at peace.”
Son of Donal Lunny, Shane was Sinead’s third kid and a traditional Irish musician.
As soon as the news broke, fans took to social media to express their sympathy for the artist and her family.
Shane MacGowan, a longtime friend of Sinead O’Connor, paid homage to him on social media, calling him a “beautiful boy.”
He wrote: “Sinead you have always been there for me and for so many people, in this world you have been a comfort and you have been a soul who is not afraid to feel the pain of the suffering and you have always tried to heal and help.
“I pray and Victoria prays that you can be comforted now and find strength and healing and peace in your own sorrow and loss, he was a beautiful boy and I loved him, and I pray he can be at peace and also be able to stay connected with you.”
Cait O’Riordan, his bandmate, wrote: “I’m so sorry Sinead.”
Muireann O’Connell, TV presenter, tweeted: “I am so terribly sorry for your tragic loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.”
Actor Alec Baldwin said on twitter, “My God, I’m so sorry“. Mike Scott, lead singer of the Waterboys tweeted: “Condolences to Sinead O’Connor and Donal Lunny, parents of 17-year-old Shane who it has been announced today has died.”
“May he rest in peace and rise with love. I send my love to you Sinead O’Connor and Donal Lunny on the loss of your beloved son.” Imelda May tweeted.
In addition to a picture of her son, O’Connor, 55, also tweeted a song called Ride Natty Ride by Bob Marley, another one of Sinead’s favorite performers.
She said: “This is for my Shaney. The light of my life. The lamp of my soul. My blue-eye baby. You will always be my light. We will always be together. No boundary can separate us.”
Shane went missing from Newbridge, County Kildare, earlier this month and was subsequently seen in Tallaght, South Dublin.
According to Sinead’s tweets, her son had been admitted to Tallaght Hospital and police had released photos of him as a missing person.
Concerned about his well being, cops issued a statement urging the public to approach them if they have any information on his location.
“Shane, your life is precious. God didn’t chisel that beautiful smile on your beautiful face for nothing.
“My world would collapse without you. You are my heart. Please don’t stop it from beating. Please don’t harm yourself. Go to the gardai and let’s get you to the hospital.
“This is a message for my son, Shane. Shane, it’s not funny any more all this going missing.
“You are scaring the crap out of me. Could you please do the right thing and present yourself at a Gardai station.
“If you are with Shane please call the Gardai for his safety”.
However, police said the search was over on Monday morning.
In response to Shane O’Connor’s disappearance in 2022, they stated: “Following the recovery of a body in the Bray area of Wicklow on Friday 7th January 2022, a Missing Person Appeal in respect of Shane O’Connor, 17 years, has been stood down.”
Sinead, who had long resided on Bray’s seaside until selling her home in May of last year, has now relocated to the country.
Donal Lunny, Shane’s father, is someone she expressed her admiration for on Twitter last year: “I am very fond of him. And vastly admire his Beatles-esque effect on Irish traditional music. He is also a lovely, kind father to our son.”
Aside from her book, she also praised him for creating her Sean Nos Nua CD and said it was “A beautiful set of legacies for our beautiful son”. One of Sinead’s three other children is Jake Reynolds, the 33-year-old son of Sinead’s ex-husband, the musician John Reynolds.
