New Sinead O'Connor waxwork plot revealed after controversial €75k model axed from Dublin museum sparked ‘hideous' fury
Museum bosses clashed with
Advertisement
4
Museum owner Paddy Dunning said that a team of artists are working together to create the new Sinead waxwork
4
Sinead was found dead in her London flat last July aged 56
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
The controversial likeness prompted Sinead's brother John O'Connor going on Liveline to blast it as 'hideous' and 'looking nothing like her'.
John said it made his sister look like 'something out of the Thunderbirds'.
Now, museum owner Paddy Dunning has revealed that rather than using one sculptor, a team of artists are working together to create
Dunning told The Irish Sun: 'I wasn't involved in the process of quality control at the
Advertisement
Read more on Sinead O'Connor
Paddy added: 'I'm qualified to get it right, because I knew Sinead since she was 18 and began her music career.
'I was the very first person to record Sinead in Temple Lane Studios, and I was the last to record her in Grouse Lodge studios in
The businessman said he could have speeded up creating a new Sinead likeness in time for her second anniversary on July 26, but he decided to let the sculpting team continue their work.
Paddy said: 'We know how important it is to get Sinead right.
Advertisement
Most read in The Irish Sun
Breaking
Exclusive
Exclusive
'So she won't be in the Wax Museum on display next week when all the fans arrive from around the world.
'But we will be projecting Sinead's image onto the walls outside on the Wall Of Fame in Temple Bar and will be displaying her dress and garments at the Irish Rock 'N' Roll Museum.'
Incredible moment Sinead O'Connor's daughter brings crowd to tears with 'quote' rendition of mum's most famous song
The previous Sinead likeness cost €75,000 before it was melted down after intense criticism.
The artist responsible, PJ Heraghty, who had successfully created over a 100 waxworks for the museum, said he sensed it would be a disaster when he was first given the job.
Advertisement
'DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT'
PJ told us: 'No, I didn't want do Sinead O'Connor. That was the gut feeling I had when I was offered the job, and I wish I listened to it.
'I just knew it was going to be problematic to capture somebody as beautiful as Sinead O'Connor and also somebody who so many people connected with.'
The
He said: 'I started at the beginning of the year, and there were also some health issues which intervened.'
Advertisement
'THERE WAS A DEADLINE'
The artist said the impending deadline of July 25 meant he didn't have the time he needed to achieve the final details of the likeness.
PJ told us: 'There was a deadline, and I also experimented with different methods. That's a dangerous thing to do as a sculptor.'
Tragic Sinead was found dead in her London flat aged 56 in 2023.
'We know how important it is to get Sinead right."
Paddy Dunning
An
was a result of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
Advertisement
Sinead fans from around the world are expected to descend on Bray, Co Wicklow next week for her second anniversary.
They will be making the pilgrimage to her former home on the Coast Road and to a bench dedicated to her outside the Martello Hotel in the town, crafted by artisans from Vale of Avoca and Bray Men's Sheds.
4
Artist PJ Heraghty sensed it would be a disaster when he was first given the job
Credit: Garrett White - The Sun Dublin
4
Fans of Sinead were devastated following her death
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Advertisement
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
16 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Horoscope today, July 21, 2025: Daily star sign guide from Mystic Meg
OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes. Read on to see what's written in the stars for you today. ♈ ARIES March 21 to April 20 As the moon and Venus get together you can get a handle on emotions that have felt out of control. Resisting negative feelings can make them stronger, so find a positive way to share these, as soon as you can. READ MORE MYSTIC MEG Family history and long-standing mystery are both in the spotlight of Jupiter – with a potential luck bonus. 3 Your daily horoscope for Monday ♉ TAURUS April 21 to May 21 You have big ideas linked to spending or saving – and getting these agreed may take a more patience than you expect. Stick to a plan, and try not to react straight away to others' actions. Give yourself time to deliberate, free from outside influences. Is 'P' passion worth fighting for? Only you can decide. Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♊ GEMINI May 22 to June 21 The more you think about a relationship – in terms of love, work or family – the less you may feel you understand it. But this is a day to trust your heart, and go with what you truly feel. If you start the day single, your name is near the top of a list – to keep it there, bring your best self to every encounter. Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♋ CANCER June 22 to July 22 There is a love dream you have kept in the shadows in recent weeks, but this is your chance to bring it into the light. You have the right to ask for change, and to be heard – and if this isn't happening, take the right action. Mercury may make money talks trickier, with its retrograde path, but they should still happen. Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♌ LEO July 23 to August 23 You are ready to be the kind of friend who always seems to do and say the right thing. This may mean leaving grudges in the past and looking to the future with a clean slate. This is so much easier with your chart of the day. Hold-ups in a learning path can be Saturn's retro track, but this offers time to be sure. Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions Most read in The Irish Sun ♍ VIRGO August 24 to September 22 Trying to reduce several life goals into one may feel an efficient approach, but can leave your future lacking. Take the time today to look at everything (and everyone) you truly want, and work out a way to have it all. This is not selfish, but your opportunity to show self-assurance. The luck factor circles a set of 'L' names. Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions 3 For love, an unconventional approach may be the best way to pin down promises Credit: Getty ♎ LIBRA September 23 to October 23 You've left travel dreams behind in the dust, but a strong sense of destiny can help you bring some back. With Mars on board, you have strength of purpose – but even better, the moon adds exceptional instincts for smart shortcuts. For love, an unconventional approach may be the best way to pin down promises. Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions List of 12 star signs The traditional dates used by Mystic Meg for each sign are below. Capricorn: Aquarius: Pisces: Aries: Taurus: Gemini: Cancer: Leo: Virgo : Libra: Scorpio: Sagittarius: ♏ SCORPIO October 24 to November 22 You are a sign of such deep feelings – and you can be happiest by recognising this, instead of trying to hide it. Denying your needs, even for the best of reasons, can build up frustration for the future – so try to be honest with yourself and others. Try again to contact that special person who connects to a past life. Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♐ SAGITTARIUS November 23 to December 21 However stormy relationships may have seemed lately, calm seas are ahead. It's important to remember you can't change other people, but you can change your own approach, and attitudes. Make a start on this today. Blocking your own imagination has become a habit, but now you can break it. Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♑ CAPRICORN December 22 to January 20 At work, and in terms of general wellbeing, you may be expecting instant results – when a slow-grow success is what your chart indicates. Manage your expectations, and celebrate every win, however small it may seem. Jupiter's luck influence centres on teams, especially where members share an initial. Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions 3 Whether a sacrifice is worth making is your decision, and you are ready Credit: Supplied ♒ AQUARIUS January 21 to February 18 Just as a passion prize comes close, you may be in two minds whether you want it any more – this is something to explore with curiosity. Whether a sacrifice is worth making is your decision, and you are ready. Small everyday actions that reinforce respect are worth more in a family than flashy gestures. Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♓ PISCES February 19 to March 20 Challenges, emotional and practical, can centre on your home life, and the very essence of who you consider yourself to be. Try to see this as a positive thing, as just ticking over is no longer an option, according to your chart. Stop-start money developments can pick up the pace when a 'G' name gets involved. Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
The Irish Sun
20 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Inside Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers' ‘toxic' reality show as crew members reveals ‘tense couple barely spoke'
DENISE Richards and Aaron Phypers' reality TV show was "toxic" behind the scenes and the former couple barely spoke, according to reports. Phypers, 52, Advertisement 4 Staff on Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers' reality show have spoken about its 'toxic' environment Credit: Getty Images - Getty 4 Phypers was caught on camera chastising Richards in an episode of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2020 Credit: Bravo Actress Richards, 54, has accused Phypers of carrying out domestic violence throughout their marriage and included a picture of herself with a black eye, allegedy caused by Phypers, in recent court documents. She also claimed in the papers that he " Phypers has denied her claims, telling "These accusations are completely false and deeply hurtful. Denise and I, like many couples, have faced our share of challenges, but any suggestion of abuse is categorically untrue. Advertisement READ MORE ON DENISE RICHARDS "I have always tried to approach our marriage with love, patience, and respect. I ask for privacy as we navigate personal matters, and I hope that the public and media will refrain from spreading harmful and baseless claims.' Phypers has since accused Richards of cheating on him in an interview with Now insiders on their reality show, Denise Richards & Her Wild Things, which aired earlier this year, have spoken out about the tense atmosphere on set. "You could cut tension with a knife sometimes," one source told the Advertisement Most read in Celebrity Live Blog The insider said the pair "wouldn't speak to each other off camera" if they'd had an argument the evening before and they would often spend time in separate rooms. On one occasion Phypers allegedly muttered about Richards going through the menopause when she fluffed her lines. Denise Richards' husband Aaron Phypers files for divorce after 6 years together The shady alleged comments were said to be a regular occurrence and made crew members uncomfortable, the source told the Mail. While businessman Phypers played the perfect husband when the cameras were rolling, he is said to have felt 'very threatened' by Richards' fame. Advertisement The insiders said Phypers had a big ego and "walked around as if he was the biggest star on the planet when we were filming." The Sun has contacted Phypers and Richards for comment. As Phypers and Richards walked off following a row with Teddi Mellencamp and Kyle Richards, Phypers said, "Don't tell me what to say. I'm going to crush your f*****g hand. Stop it." Advertisement Richards alleges that she suffered physical and verbal abuse throughout her seven-year marriage, including strikes to her head and face and degrading profanities, according to court documents obtained by The U.S. Sun. "Throughout our relationship, Aaron would frequently violently choke me, violently squeeze my head with both hands, tightly squeeze my arms, violently slap me in my face and head, aggressively slam my head into the bathroom rack, threaten to kill me," Richards said in court documents. "Aaron regularly threatened to 'break my jaw' and would cry, beg me to stay, and promise to get help - none of which ever happened," the actress added. "Aaron has caused me at least three concussions. Aaron has told me that he has left recording devices to record me while I was alone in hotel rooms and at my townhouses." Advertisement Most recently, she alleged in court docs that on July 4, over the course of two hours, Phypers repeatedly "got within two inches of my face and screamed at me degrading profanities, including calling me a c**t, whore, and a piece of s**t." Richards added: "Aaron's actions were scaring me to the point that, as with nearly all of Aaron's abuse of me, I was afraid that Aaron may kill me." The Wild Things actress claimed she never called law enforcement on her husband because Aaron "threatened to kill himself" if she reported him, she said in court documents. Richards claimed in court docs Phypers would hack her laptop and phone and download all of her text messages. Advertisement Phypers told TMZ he found out about Richards' alleged hookup with another man earlier this year, when he discovered text messages on her laptop. He claimed the messages included selfies and plans for "rendezvous at a hotel". He said he confronted Richards about the alleged affair and they decided to work it out and stay together. But a huge fight over the July 4 weekend prompted him to file for divorce. Advertisement He also claimed that his phone went missing for more than 24 hours and later found it smashed to pieces in a bin. Phypers told the outlet he questioned Richards about the phone but she alletedly "hit and scratched him". VICIOUS ATTACK During an incident on January 17, 2022, Richards alleged in court docs that Phypers viciously used the heel of his palm to strike her in her left eye, causing massive swelling and bruising. Richards claimed that moments before the incident, Phypers became "paranoid" claiming that several potted plants he had just purchased for his workspace contained listening devices. Advertisement The actress said Phypers began screaming and that's when a police officer, who would regularly station in the parking lot of the Malibu property, approached the door. However, after the officer left, Richards alleged in court docs that Phypers continued screaming then "used the heel of his palm to strike me in the eye while calling me a 'f**king b***h.'" Richards claimed a family member witnessed the attack, which caused significant bruising to form around her left eye. "The bruising took a month to heal. I had to cancel two professional meetings and rely on a makeup artist - who was aware of the situation - to cover the injury for an unavoidable work obligation," she added in the docs. Advertisement She claimed her husband insisted she tell others that she had "walked into a piece of his equipment stored on the building's balcony." A judge granted Richards a temporary restraining order against Phypers that will last until August 8, when the estranged couple are due in court. Phypers was ordered to stay 100 yards from Richards' home, place of work and vehicle. He was also ordered to return her laptops and everything he downloaded from her phone. Advertisement DIVORCE SHOCK The U.S. Sun previously reported that Richards was caught by surprise when she learned about Phypers' divorce filing. Sources close to the former Housewives of Beverly Hills star said she felt "utterly betrayed." "She never in a million years wanted to get another divorce and she never in a million years thought he would do this to her," the insider told The U.S. Sun in early July. "It's a betrayal; he promised he would never do this. She made it crystal clear to him thousands of times that they could work through anything no matter how big the problem but divorce was never an option. Advertisement "He agreed. Then did this. There's more questions than answers right now." Phypers is requesting spousal support to continue with their lavish lifestyle, which cost over $105,000 a month, according to court papers filed in "Denise thinks it's egregious he is seeking spousal support from her after she has been financially supporting him all these years," the source added. 'She thought he was different but turns out he's what people warned her about.' Advertisement If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or chat at 4 Richards accused Phypers of domestic violence Credit: Superior Court of California 4 Phypers claimed he found out about Richards' alleged hookup with another man earlier this year Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
21 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘You'd hope people wouldn't believe it', says Daniel O'Donnell on ‘ridiculous' online ‘fake stories' about wife & family
IRISH music icon Daniel O'Donnell has blasted "fake stories" circulating online about him and his family, saying: "It is so ridiculous you'd hope people wouldn't believe it." Wee Daniel and wife Majella have been married for over 22 years, tying the knot back in November 4, 2002 at St Mary's Church in Kincasslagh, Donegal. Advertisement 2 Daniel has opened up on the effect fake stories have on him and his family Credit: Free for editorial use 2 Daniel gave one example of a recent story he saw about his wife Credit: Getty Images - Getty But as someone in the public eye, Daniel is all too aware of the drawbacks of fame. And combined with the nefarious elements of social media, the singer has been the target of fake stories about his family. He told the Despite the jarring nature of seeing false stories circulate, Daniel and his family try not to let them affect their personal lives. Advertisement read more daniel o'donnell He continued: "Majella laughed when she saw it because it is hilarious. As bizarre stories go, this one is top of the tree. In another story I was at death's door in a hospital bed. "I have seen other fake stories about our family, including some about Michael (Majella's son) saying that he couldn't have had a better stepfather and all I did for him, but, unfortunately he couldn't live under the same roof, which is ridiculous." The Danny Boy singer noted he isn't the only one affected by online trolls either, as he called out for better protections of the elderly. He explained: "If you try to find out the source of these stories I just think you are on a road to nowhere. There doesn't seem to be any legislation about Advertisement Most read in Celebrity Exclusive "People think it's me they are talking to on Facebook and it's very plausible. A lot of the time (the scam) is that I am going to meet them and they are going to come away with me. They send on thousands." He added: "I know of one particular woman in America who got caught up in this. A lot of people are vulnerable and there are people who believe that. Sometimes people hang on to the strangest thread, no matter how weak it is. Daniel O'Donnell forced to address rumours "They are the people who fall prey to the scammers and they are sending the money, which they think is to me because this is the way it is going to work. Eventually they realise this is not the real person at all, it's not a real account and they can't find the person. "Their money is gone and there doesn't seem to be anything they can do about it, which is ridiculous. Surely to God, when they can send people to space, they should be able to find out who owns a Facebook page." Advertisement Despite not sharing much of his personal life online, sometimes Daniel takes to his Facebook to And in April, the Donegal crooner welcomed his first grandchild into the world. Daniel is stepdad to Majella's kids, Michael and Siobhan, and they've been in his life since they were nine and 11 respectively. Michael and his wife Sarah, who Advertisement Sarah is from Australia and the happy family live in In a photo Daniel shared to his Facebook, Michael and Sarah smiled from ear-to-ear as they huddled in close with their bundle of joy in their arms and their dog by their feet.
