I was singing, fired up by the thrilling energy of “Mandinka,” when I became aware of flashing blue lights. On Wednesday, Ms. O’Connor’s body was found in a London apartment. Auden wrote of Yeats, “Mad Ireland hurt you into poetry.” Cruel Ireland hurt Ms. O’Connor into song. She was furious that in a country that had supposedly fought for and won its freedom, women and children were so silenced and disempowered. She understood and had experienced pain, neglect and injustice and sang for those who also knew these things.

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Persons: Sinead O’Connor’s, Auden, Yeats, “, Ms, O’Connor Locations: Republic, London, Ireland