Jessie Buckley to pay tribute to Sinéad O’Connor at RTÉ Culture Night

By Kerri-Ann Roper and Naomi Clarke, PA Reporters

Irish star Jessie Buckley has hailed the late Sinéad O’Connor as a “warrior to humanity” as it was announced she will perform a tribute song to the late singer as part of the 2023 Culture Night programme.

The singer and actress (33) joins a list of musicians for the evening, which will be presented by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, who will perform with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra including The Murder Capital, R&B singer and 2FM Rising star Aby Coulibaly and Ireland-based Ukrainian musician Olesya Zdorovetska.

She said: “I am very honoured to return to Culture Night 2023 to remember Sinéad O’Connor with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

“Sinéad was such a huge influence on so many women in Ireland and across the world, her courage, her mind, her politics and her intense beauty and soul. She was a warrior to humanity.

“I remember hearing her for the first time and feeling her uncompromising need to connect and affect. Recognising what couldn’t be said and speaking it out loud.

“I am so grateful for all her fire and all her love. It is such a privilege to return to Ireland for RTÉ Culture Night in Donegal to sing a song of gratitude for Sinéad and her family and friends.”

Irish singer and activist O’Connor died at her London home in July aged 56.

The Dublin-born star was propelled to international stardom in 1990 with her version of the hit Nothing Compares 2 U.

Alongside her powerful vocals and lyrics, she was known for taking fierce stances on social and political issues such as the child abuse scandal in the Catholic church and the sexualisation of female musicians.

RTÉ’s hour-long music and arts programme, which will be presented live from Dún Lúiche in Donegal, will also see members of the Irish folk revival duo Ye Vagabonds play on a shorefront amphitheatre off the Donegal coast.

They will be joined by musicians including Irish fiddler and vocalist Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Nia Ní Bheirn.

Meanwhile, choreographer and former Riverdance lead Breandán de Gallaí will perform a commissioned dance filmed on the island with his dance company Eriu.

The show will also feature a range of events happening around the country for Culture Night from the worlds of spoken word, music, dance and street theatre.

Among these is The Lighthouse Project, a spoken word and music event held at Hook Head in Co Wexford, and an aerial performance by Fidget Feet at Robert Byrne Park in Limerick.

The Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin will also host an event celebrating food heritage and community.

The RTÉ Culture Night celebration will air on Friday, September 22nd at 7pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.