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The wax figure of Sinéad O'Connor removed from display Carl Kinsella

'Hideous' Sinéad O'Connor waxwork removed from display after family complaints

The artist who created the waxwork sculpture, PJ Heraty, has been behind many well received works for the museum.

LAST UPDATE | 26 Jul 2024

A WAX SCULPTURE of the late Sinéad O’Connor has been withdrawn from display at the National Wax Museum in Dublin after its unveiling yesterday was met with uproar from fans of the world famous singer. 

The likeness was unveiled yesterday ahead of the first anniversary of O’Connor’s untimely death and was immediately met with mixed but mostly negative reaction online. 

“After careful consideration and feedback from the public, we have decided to create a new wax figure that more accurately captures Sinead O’Connor’s essence and legacy,” said a spokesperson for the museum. 

After a meeting held this morning, the decision was made to remove the figure. 

Sinéad O’Connor’s brother John O’Connor phoned into RTÉ’s Liveline this afternoon and said the figure looked like something between “a mannequin and something out of the Thunderbirds”.

“I thought it was hideous,” he said, adding that a statue of the singer in Dublin city would be a more appropriate tribute. 

Paddy Dunning, who runs the wax museum in Dublin, also called into Liveline to join Sinéad’s brother. He said: “I didn’t sleep last night.”

He said that the sculpture had not gone through the normal approval process. He apologised for upsetting people, particularly the O’Connor family, by unveiling the sculpture. 

“We’ll go again and we’ll remodel and we have to do better,” he said.

Asked why the process had been rushed, Dunning said it was because of the anniversary of O’Connor’s death, which falls today. 

Only yesterday, however, Dunning had said: “I think she would be happy with it. I think it’s put her forward as a serious artist.”

Dunning SOC wax Paddy Dunning posing with the sculpture yesterday. Carl Kinsella Carl Kinsella

The artist who created the waxwork sculpture, PJ Heraty, has been behind many well received works for the museum in the past but Dunning said, “I know he could do better.”

Heraty has just retired and this was to be his last work for the museum. 

Heraty created the sculpture of legendary rock star Phil Lynnott’s mother, Philomena Lynott, as well as the model of former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, both of whom praised his work. 

“The National Wax Museum Plus is launching a new project to create a more accurate representation,” the museum said in a statement today.

“In response to the public’s feedback regarding the wax figure, we acknowledge that the current representation did not meet our high standards or the expectations of Sinead’s devoted fans.

“We have listened closely to the reactions and agree that the figure does not fully capture Sinead’s unique presence and essence as we intended.”

The statement continued: “We deeply appreciate the public’s love for Sinead and share in their admiration for her remarkable career and contributions.”

The museum said it is committed to creating “a new wax figure that better reflects Sinead O’Connor’s true spirit and iconic image”, adding that work on a new likeness would begin immediately. 

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    Mute E.J. Murray
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    Mar 14th 2022, 11:02 AM

    Russia the mushroom state, where the vast majority of the population is kept in the dark and fed on bs. If Putin really thinks that attacking Ukraine is a just cause, he’d be telling his people the truth, instead of desperately trying to keep the lid on what’s taking place.

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    Mute Neil Neart
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    Mar 14th 2022, 11:56 AM

    The basic issue here is Putin and his mates are establishing structures to protect their continued robbery of Russia. Unfortunately Western politicians, bankers and others enabled Russian oligarch’s accumulate their wealth for over 20 years and therefore they share responsibility for the many atrocities recently perpetrated by Russia. Turning a blind eye is costing the world dearly.

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    Mute A Well Known Comical Stereotype AKA PRGuy
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    Mar 14th 2022, 12:43 PM

    @Neil Neart: Wow. I don’t blame anyone but Russia for this.

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    Mute Allora
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    Mar 14th 2022, 2:06 PM

    @Neil Neart: I think you are almost completely right except you forgot to blame Russia for invading its neighbour which is entirely Russias responsibility.

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    Mute John Black
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    Mar 14th 2022, 5:03 PM

    @Neil Neart: I guess you can take your pick-
    A. West did nothing to retain Putin over the years- so its our fault.
    B. West did too much meddling- so its our fault.
    Ejits.

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    Mute John Black
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    Mar 14th 2022, 5:03 PM

    @Neil Neart: I guess you can take your pick-
    A. West did nothing to retain Putin over the years so its our fault.
    B. West did too much meddling- so its our fault.
    Ejits.

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    Mute Laurence Cavanagh
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    Mar 14th 2022, 1:33 PM

    Russians negotiating in nothing but bad faith.

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    Mute David Haye
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    Mar 14th 2022, 4:43 PM

    Oligarch means millionaire

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    Mute Anne Busher Collins
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    Mar 14th 2022, 10:30 PM

    @David Haye: Including our own who is the owner of Aughish Alumina.

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    Mute Dave Johnston
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    Mar 14th 2022, 2:46 PM

    @David Haye: eegit.

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    Mute Dave Johnston
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    Mar 14th 2022, 2:45 PM

    @David Haye: Fool

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    Mute Anne Busher Collins
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    Mar 14th 2022, 10:32 PM

    Sanctions against Oleg Deripaska? Michael Martin has his head in the sand about this guy.

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    Mute Albert Brennerman
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    Mar 15th 2022, 12:17 AM

    There can be no long win here for Russia and though the emperor himself surely now is aware he has no clothes, he is keen to bludgeon his way to consensus on his most magnificent garment amidst the bodies of families and children. Fleeting truth will not last. The Greeks knew the power of the word Logos a deep truth it cannot be hidden.

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    Mute Anne Busher Collins
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    Mar 14th 2022, 10:29 PM

    What about our own Oligarc Oleg?

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