Russell Crowe's moving essay to Sinead O'Connor as he reveals their heartbreaking last meeting outsi
Russell Crowe has posted a moving tribute to late Irish music legend Sinead O'Connor following her death.
The Gladiator actor, 59, took to Elon Musk's X app to share a story about meeting O'Connor at a pub in Dublin.
'There under streetlights with mist on my breath, I met Sinéad. She looked in my eyes, and uttered with disarming softness "oh, it’s you Russell",' he wrote.
'She came with us back to the table and sat in the cold and ordered a hot tea. In a conversation without fences we roamed through the recent Dublin heatwave, local politics, American politics,' he continued.
'The ongoing fight for indigenous recognition in many places, but particularly in Australia, her warm memory of New Zealand, faith, music, movies and her brother the writer. I had the opportunity to tell her she was a hero of mine.'
Russell Crowe has posted a moving tribute to late Irish music legend Sinead O'Connor following her death
Russell went on to call O'Connor 'amazing' and stressed what an impact their one night together had on him.
'When her second cup was taking on the night air, she rose, embraced us all and strode away into the fog-dimmed streetlights. We sat there the four of us and variously expressed the same thing. What an amazing woman. Peace be with your courageous heart Sinéad,' he wrote.
It comes following news that O'Connor died at the age of 56 after years of mental health battles.
The Irish Grammy-winning singer, whose cause of death is not yet known, became world famous in 1990 with her heartrending cover of Prince's Nothing Compares 2 U.
The Gladiator actor, 59, took to Elon Musk's X app to share a story about meeting O'Connor at a pub in Dublin, calling her his 'hero'
The song topped charts across the globe, including in Australia, the United States and the UK, and has often been cited as the greatest breakup ballad of all time by music critics.
It comes 18 months after the mother-of-four's son Shane, 17, took his life in January 2022 after escaping hospital while on suicide watch.
At the time of her death, the musician, who changed her name to Shuhada' Sadaqat in 2018 when she converted to Islam, was thought to be spending her time between Co Roscommon, Ireland, and London.
In her last Tweet, O'Connor posted a photo of Shane and said: 'Been living as undead night creature since. He was the love of my life, the lamp of my soul.
'We were one soul in two halves. He was the only person who ever loved me unconditionally. I am lost in the bardo without him.'
Crowe's tribute comes following news that O'Connor died at the age of 56 after years of mental health battles
O'Connor had spoken publicly about her mental health struggles over the years and admitted she battled thoughts of suicide and had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
In a statement, O'Connor's family said: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad.
'Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.'
Tributes poured in for the adored singer after her death was announced on Wednesday evening.
Irish President Michael D. Higgins praised O'Connor's 'extraordinarily beautiful, unique voice' and said he hoped 'her spirit [may] find the peace she sought in so many different ways'.
Russell Crowe's touching tribute to Sinead O'Connor
Last year, working in Ireland, having a pint in the cold outside a Dalkey pub with some new friends, a woman with purpose strode past us. Puffy parker zipped to the nape and her bowed head covered in a scarf.
One of my new friends muttered an exclamation, jumped up and pursued the woman. Thirty metres down the road the friend and the woman embraced and he waived me over. There under streetlights with mist on my breath, I met Sinéad. She looked in my eyes, and uttered with disarming softness, "Oh, it’s you Russell". She came with us back to the table and sat in the cold and ordered a hot tea.
In a conversation without fences we roamed through the recent Dublin heatwave, local politics, American politics, the ongoing fight for indigenous recognition in many places, but particularly in Australia, her warm memory of New Zealand, faith, music, movies and her brother the writer.
I had the opportunity to tell her she was a hero of mine. When her second cup was taking on the night air, she rose, embraced us all and strode away into the fog-dimmed streetlights. We sat there the four of us and variously expressed the same thing. What an amazing woman.
Peace be with your courageous heart Sinéad.
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