SINEAD O’CONNOR provided the highlight of an emotional night for Ireland with a spine-tingling performing that came as part of the nationwide #ShineYourLight campaign.
At 9pm this past Saturday, April 11, people across the country lit up a candle, torch or light in remembrance of those who have died from COVID-19 and as a mark of respect for the brave healthcare staff and frontline workers battling on.
Michael D Higgins and Leo Varadkar were among those to mark the occasion with candles of their own.
The standout moment, however, belonged to Sinead O’Connor over on RTE’s broadcast of the event.
Keen to do her part to pay tribute to the lives lost and those who fight on, O’Connor delivered a poignant rendition of Snow Patrol’s signature hit “Run”.
Dressed all in white against a backdrop of pictures and videos of people shining their lights for Ireland’s heroes, it proved an emotional performance for many watching on at home.
In performing the song, O’Connor also succeeded in lifting the mood of the nation and providing a rallying cry of hope in these dark times, particularly with the song’s chorus of:
“Light up, light up As if you have a choice Even if you cannot hear my voice I'll be right beside you dear.”
An emotionally raw and incredibly powerful performance, it ranked among the Nothing Compares 2 U singer’s finest hours, striking a chord with countless millions watching on at home.
Writing on Twitter, O’Connor who goes by the name Shuhada Davitt since converting to Islam said: “Much thanks to Paulina and everyone else at RTE for inviting me to sing tonight and for being so lovely.”
The performance has since been posted to YouTube alongside a simple message: “Stay at home”.
See More: #ShineYourLight, Coronavirus, Lockdown, Sinead O'Connor
