Sinead O’Connor’s managers send love to her fans ‘who prevailed in their support and kindness’

Sinead O’Connor’s managers send love to her fans ‘who prevailed in their support and kindness’

2 August 2023

DOWNPATRICK brothers Kenneth and Carl Papenfus have paid tribute to acclaimed singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor who died last week.

The duo, were part of local band Relish, managed the legendary Irish star who died at her London home for nine years.

Having converted to Islam in 2018, Shuhada Davitt continued to perform under the name Sinéad until her untimely death aged 56.

Kenneth and Carl not only managed Ms O’Connor, but produced and recorded her music.

In a statement on the 67 Management website, the brothers said they “send our love, our thoughts and our prayers to Sinead O’Connor’s family at this time”.

“We would like to thank the incredible love and support for Sinéad from her fans first and foremost who have prevailed in their support and kindness throughout,” the statement continued.

The brothers forged a professional connection and friendship with the Dublin singer from having played in her band as a guitarist and 

drummer during her last world tour in 2014/2015.

Thereafter, the brothers naturally progressed to managing the star.

Speaking to the Recorder in 2019, Ken said: “We kind of just morphed into this role when we were getting ready to do some recording with her. There was no-one else in place, so we thought we would help.”

The Nothing Compares 2 U star  visited Downpatrick in 2019 to record with the Relish rockers.

Ken said at the time Sinéad “very much enjoyed Downpatrick” and was “really pleased to be back performing again and has got a whole new team around her”.

The singer was spotted at the Passage to India restaurant in St Patrick’s Avenue where waitress Elisha Tumelty got a photograph with the international singer.

As the artist management team, Ken and Carl have also paid tribute to “the wonderful musicians, artists and supporting teams who have been nothing short of incredible in the time that they knew Sinéad – incredible as musicians and incredible as true friends of Sinéad”.

They added: “It has been an honour to have worked with Sinéad professionally, as musicians, producers and her artist managers over the past nine years. But much, much more than that, Sinéad was family.”