Ireland

‘We can do better’: Sinéad O’Connor waxwork pulled after public outcry

The museum will instead launch a new project to ‘create a more accurate representation’ of the singer

A wax sculpture of Sinéad O’Connor has been unveiled at the National Wax Museum to mark the one year anniversary of the singer’s death. Video: Enda O'Dowd
Simran Kathuria
Fri Jul 26 2024 - 13:58

The owners of the Wax Museum have decided to pull the waxwork figure of the late Sinéad O’Connor following significant public commentary.

The figure was just revealed yesterday, coinciding with the first anniversary of O’Connor’s death.

Her brother John O’Connor was one of the many people to criticise the waxwork as “hideous” and “inappropriate” describing it on an interview on RTÉ’s Liveline call-in radio programme as “between a mannequin and something out of the Thunderbirds”.

The museum said it will remove the waxwork from the exhibition and will instead launch a new project to “create a more accurate representation” of the singer, it said.

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[ Sinéad O’Connor’s waxwork looks nothing like the fiery young woman from 1990 it represents ]

In a statement on Friday afternoon it said that Paddy Dunning, the museum director, and a “long-time close friend” of Sinéad O’Connor, met with the team and decided that “we at The National Wax Museum Plus can do better”.

“Furthermore, 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 Sinéad’s devoted fans,” they added in a statement.

“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.”

“We extend our gratitude to everyone who provided their feedback and assure you that your voices are heard. We look forward to unveiling a new figure that truly honours Sinéad O’Connor and her extraordinary impact,” they added.

Mr Dunning said that they would be take it down as it doesn’t give a “wow factor”.

“I always have a look at statues before the reveal. This time I wasn’t in Dublin,” he said.

“So, I couldn’t analyse it beforehand. I saw an enthusiastic crowd at the launch and so I went on with it. I saw the statue minutes before the reveal, and I did not like it. We still do not know what we will do with this statue for now.”