Sinead O’Connor’s funeral as it happened: Bono and Bob Geldof among mourners at private service
Fans of the ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ singer have lined the streets for procession along the seafront in Bray, Co Wicklow
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Fans lined the streets of Bray, Co Wicklow, ahead of Sinead O’Connor’s funeral on Tuesday 8 August.
The Irish singer’s funeral procession passed through the seafront in the town where O’Connor lived for 15 years. Plans for her funeral were shared by her family, in a statement issued to Ireland’s public broadcaster, RTE.
Ahead of the funeral, fans packed out the Strand Road, leaving emotional notes of tribute and flowers for the singer by her former home.
After the public paid their respects, O’Connor was buried in a private service attended by close friends and family.
On Sunday (6 August), a large tribute to O’Connor appeared on a hillside in Bray, reading “ÉIRE SINÉAD” with a heart emoji between the two words, the word “Eire” being the Irish name for Ireland.
“We just wanted to take the opportunity to mark the moment with a bold statement that symbolises what she meant to this little country of ours,” Richard Seabrooke, executive creative director of The Tenth Man, told CNN in a statement.
Find out how the funeral unfolded below.
Sinead O’Connor’s funeral details revealed as mourners encouraged to line Bray seafront
The funeral of the late singer Sinead O’Connor is to be held on Tuesday, with people being invited to line a Co Wicklow seafront where she used to live as a “last goodbye”.
The cortege is to travel along the seafront in Bray, starting at the Harbour Bar and continuing to the other end of the Strand Road, before continuing on to a private burial.
It will pass by her former home on the Strand Road, Montebello, where she lived for 15 years and where people have been leaving flowers since her death.
Read more:
Sinead O’Connor’s funeral details revealed
Cortege is to travel past singer’s former home in Bray, before a private burial on Tuesday
Sinead O’Connor’s family have asked people who wish to say a “last goodbye” to stand along Bray seafront in Co Wicklow as the cortege passes by before a private burial.
The procession is expected to start at 10.30 am at the Harbour Bar end of the Strand Road and will continue past O’Connor’s former home, Montebello, where she lived for 15 years.
What happened to Sinead O’Connor?
The “Nothing Compares 2 U” singer was found unresponsive at an address in London, her family confirmed on 26 July. A cause of death has not yet been announced but police are treating the circumstances as unsuspicious.
After O’Connor’s 17-year-old son Shane died by suicide in January 2022, she occasionally shared her grief on social media. Days before she died, the Irish star published a heartfelt post about her son’s death.
Sinead O’Connor fans gathered to sing ‘Nothing Compares 2 U' in Dublin tribute
ICYMI: Fans of Sinead O’Connor sang her most famous song at a poignant gathering in Dublin to pay tribute to the late star.
Around 100 people joined together to sing Nothing Compares 2 U at the event last month.
Alongside her powerful vocals and lyrics, the Irish singer 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.
The lunchtime singalong in Barnardo Square, central Dublin, was organised by socialist feminist group Rosa.
Read more:
Sinead O’Connor fans gather to sing Nothing Compares 2 U in Dublin tribute
The 56-year-old Irish singer died in London last week.
Fans leave heartfelt messages for Sinead O’Connor in book of condolence
Fans of Sinead O’Connor flocked to write heartfelt messages in a new book of condolences in Dublin, following the singer‘s death.
The book of condolences was opened to the public at The Mansion House in Dublin, which saw members of the public come in droves to write a message to the singer.
Fans leave heartfelt messages for Sinead O’Connor in book of condolence
Fans of Sinead O'Connor flocked to write heartfelt messages in a new book of condolences in Dublin, following the singer's death. The book of condolences was opened to the public at The Mansion House in Dublin, which saw members of the public come in droves to write a message to the singer. People took turns writing messages. The video shows a sole photograph of her displayed on a table, with a lit candle next to the book. Sinead O'Connor was found "unresponsive" in her home in Lambeth, South London on Wednesday, 26 July. The 56-year-old Irish singer was pronounced dead not long after.
No medical cause given for Sinead O’Connor’s death
No medical cause was given in the death of Sinead O’Connor and an autopsy will be carried out, London Inner South Coroner’s Court said on 27 July.
The result of the autopsy may not be available for several weeks, according to a statement on the court website.
Read more:
Watch: Hillside tribute unveiled close to town where Sinead O’Connor will be buried
ICYMI: All-Ireland final paid tribute to Sinead O’Connor
All-Ireland final pays tribute to late Sinead O’Connor
A tribute was paid to Sinead O’Connor ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland football final between Dublin and Kerry. Fans cheered as the late singer’s face appeared against a black background on the big screens inside Croke Park as the players warmed up. O’Connor’s 1990 hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U”, was also sounded out on a grey and rainy Sunday afternoon. Dublin went on to edge Kerry to reclaim the All-Ireland Football title with a 1-15 to 1-13 victory in a captivating final.
Sinead O’Connor has been described as a “blessed soul” by the Imam who helped convert her to Islam.
The Grammy-winning singer, who died aged 56, converted to Islam in 2018 – changing her name to Shuhada’ Davitt, later Shuhada Sadaqat.
She tweeted in 2018 from a now-deleted account: “I am proud to have become a Muslim.
“This is the natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian’s journey; all scripture study leads to Islam.”
Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, 40, an Islamic scholar and the chief Imam at the Islamic Centre of Ireland, met O’Connor in 2018.
Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: “She was very down to earth, very humble. You can kind of say she was a blessed soul.
“She also was a great representative of Islam, and of humanity.
“This is a person who was very inclusive, diverse, open and non-judgmental – a beautiful human being.
“But at the same time had very difficult challenges, and I think these trials and difficulties she had, highlighted her strength and resilience.
“She represented the essence of our shared humanity.”
Sinead O’Connor’s funeral details revealed as mourners encouraged to line Bray seafront
Sinead O’Connor’s family have asked people who wish to say a “last goodbye” to stand along Bray seafront in Co Wicklow as the cortege passes by before a private burial.
The procession is expected to start at 10.30 am at the Harbour Bar end of the Strand Road and will continue past O’Connor’s former home, Montebello, where she lived for 15 years.
Read more:
Sinead O’Connor’s funeral details revealed
Cortege is to travel past singer’s former home in Bray, before a private burial on Tuesday
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