Sinéad O’Connor truly lit up the Thurles stage

Sometimes you meet people and know they are a rare sort that change the world. So it was watching Sinead O’Connor perform in Tom Semple’s field in 2019.

I got to meet her backstage at the Féile Classical and had a great chat about the venue and how stories and history can mingle and create something new in the now.

It is an arena for sports stars most of the time, but for me it is where I perform a live match commentary some of the time and try to bring a moment to life with words.

To see a top artist at work up close, like Sinead O’Connor, was a rare thing as was the possibility of learning something about how to do a commentary better as - just like singing - it is about more than words.

To see one of the great artists of our time, chat to her and be at the front of the stage in a special place to see her perform was a great buzz.

Early that day I was in the arena before the gates opened to the general public and, along with two friends, went to the main stage to see Sinead sing and rehearse with the Irish Chamber Orchestra.

The sun shone as they went through the start of a number of tunes and kept the energy high with one or two full songs. “Again” was uttered again and again by Sinead as she looked to hit the right note. She sought perfection. She got very close to it that day.

She moved about the stage and channelled energy. In a near hour-long rehersal she went through a lot of emotions simply with the goal of getting it right on the night. It was a masterclass in seeking perfection. Perfect timing, movement and sound.

The effort she put into the rehearsal was a real eye opener. It mattered as much as any other moment. She lived in that moment.

Later that day under the Kinane Stand we chatted about the history of the venue, Shane MacGowan, books and who else was on stage. I don’t remember her later show clearly but I know it was class. The people sang and danced.

I remember the rehearsal from earlier that day clearly and that was outstanding. Just powerful.

The tunes she hit that day behind closed doors and that night before a grateful audience were near perfection. It was her first major festival gig in a number of years and one of her last ever performances.

She wore a Panic at the Disco hoodie and headscarf that night and had converted to Islam around that time. She sang and the crowd sang along to her own songs as well as A rainy night in Soho and Haunted which she originally sang with Shane MacGowan.

The Parting Glass was the finale if I remember correctly. An old traditional Scottish song that Liam Clancy and Bob Dylan sung. Suffice to say she brought the house down. After that she waved and left Thurles.