Sinéad O'Connor's Unreleased Final Album 'No Veteran Dies Alone' Surfaces in Producer's Private Messages

Producer David Holmes posted on Instagram in late July 2026, sharing private messages he received from Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor before her death, along with details about their unfinished final collaboration, No Veteran Dies Alone. O'Connor died in July 2023 at age 56, with the cause of death listed as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Holmes posted the tribute around the third anniversary of her passing, saying it remains unclear whether the album will ever be officially released.

The messages and recording notes

Holmes shared two messages O'Connor had sent him. In one, she mentions someone named "Neil" — possibly Irish film director Neil Jordan — reacting enthusiastically to a playback of No Veteran Dies Alone. O'Connor herself wrote that she was "so excited because it sounds so good." She also laid out specific recording notes, including adding more harmonies and fixing the vocal layering balance in the first chorus.

A second message, dated December 2022, detailed how she wanted the album to open with an a cappella track and have its songs sequenced in the order they were written or recorded. She ended the message saying she hoped they would keep making records together "until one of us goes first."

In his caption, Holmes described the album as "a love letter to her children and to the world," and quoted something O'Connor told him about the lead track: that a technically better version might exist somewhere, but she could never give a performance more truthful than the one already on tape.

Musicians respond

The post drew responses from several musicians in the comments. Imelda May said she had heard the album and called it "truly unbelievable," adding that "this album matters, and the world needs to hear it." BBC Radio 6 Music host Lauren Laverne wrote that she hoped to one day share it with the public, while Pulp's Jarvis Cocker replied simply, "Agreed."

Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai commented: "David, can't wait for this to come out. The world needs it." The band Garbage wrote: "Heartbreaking and exciting to know this finished album exists."

O'Connor's last studio album was 2014's I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss, and her final released single was a 2023 recording of "The Skye Boat Song" for the TV series Outlander. No release plans for No Veteran Dies Alone have been announced.