‘An amazing woman’: Russell Crowe pens touching tribute to the late Sinéad O’Connor

In a moving display of love and admiration, Hollywood icon Russell Crowe has penned a touching tribute to the late Irish songstress, Sinead O’Connor.

The Aussie superstar, known for his powerful performances on the silver screen, revealed a rarely-seen side of himself as he poured his heart out in a poignant tribute to the late singer-songwriter.

As mourners flooded social media with tributes to O’Connor, Crowe took to social media himself to share a chance encounter he shared with the Nothing Compares 2 U hitmaker in Dublin back in 2022.

“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,” he began.

“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 waved 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.”

The public were profoundly moved by Crowe’s tribute to O’Connor, praising the actor for his kind words.

Just beautiful. So warm to read.

— chris murphy (@chrismurphys) July 28, 2023

What a beautiful moment to share with us so beautifully, thank you

— Sarah Cooper (@sarahcpr) July 27, 2023

If you do nothing else the rest of your life, you did this… and this was good… you’re a good man Russell Crowe… like that avenue , those good blessings run both ways…

— Kwin19 (@Kwin1957) July 27, 2023

This is the best Twitter thread ever.. Thank you, Russell Crowe for being the perfect Gladiator, Sinead is smiling and having another cup of tea ❣️????????????????????

— Bonita Lisborg (@Howardroak) July 27, 2023

A moving tribute. Thank you, sir.

— matt dooley (@mdooley) July 27, 2023

Fans and fellow musicians were left in a state of mourning following the sudden passing of O’Connor on Wednesday, 26 at the age of 56.

O’Connor’s family released a statement announcing the passing of the Nothing Compares 2 U hitmaker.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad,” the statement read.

“Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”