Laughter in the face of death: The unsung story of Sinead O’Connor and a dying fan
Their friendship started with a phone call out of the blue. It grew into a year of laughter, matching buzz cuts and the best week in Louise Woolcock’s short life.
Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor was many things – an extraordinary talent, a provocateur, and a staunch activist – but for 20-year-old Woolcock, O’Connor was the friend that helped her smile as she approached death.
Sinead O’Connor had an enduring friendship with English fan Louise Woolcock. Credit: Judy Woolcock/Twitter
After finding out her soft tissue cancer was terminal, Woolcock received an unexpected call in 1991 while trying to raise funds for her hospice. On the other end of the phone was one of her favourite musicians: Sinead O’Connor.
After a long phone call, Louise was invited by her idol to spend some time together in London. It was the beginning of a deep connection between the pair, driven by a love of dancing and a shared sense of humour.
O’Connor, known for her fierce and expressive music, died earlier this week at the age of 56.
O’Connor shaves Woolcock’s hair off.Credit: Judy Woolcock/Twitter
In a letter penned to The Telegraph following O’Connor’s untimely death, Philip Woolcock said his daughter Louise met the singer at Euston Station a few days after their first call, and there began the “the best week of her short life”.
“They dined, they drank, they danced – but most of all they laughed irreverently,” the Lancashire man said.
“Sinéad was at the height of her fame at this time and found it highly amusing that, when they were out, people were asking for Louise’s autograph. Louise returned home exhausted and happier than I had seen her since her devastating cancer diagnosis.”
“They dined, they drank, they danced – but most of all they laughed irreverently.”
Philip Woolcock
Judy Woolcock shared photos on Twitter of the music star shaving her daughter’s hair off after it had grown back following chemotherapy. The young women were photographed together, grinning widely and sporting identical buzz cuts.
The friendship between the pair continued – with O’Connor sending flowers, letters and wine – right up until Louise’s death from rhabdomyosarcoma in 1992.
O’Connor dedicated her recording of Silent Night to the young woman and her family.
“During all this time, Sinead never sought any publicity for these acts of love and compassion,” Woolcock wrote in his letter.
“Today my thoughts are with two remarkable women who, I have no doubt, will be somewhere still laughing, dancing and singing.”
O’Connor was propelled to superstardom by her 1990 cover of Nothing Compares 2 U, which received three Grammy nominations and topped the charts worldwide. Rolling Stone named her Artist of the Year in 1991 after the release of her acclaimed album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got.
O’Connor announced in 2018 that she had converted to Islam and would be adopting the name Shuhada Sadaqat – although she continued to use Sinead O’Connor professionally.
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