Jess Hardiman
Sinead O’Connor fans have lined the streets in Bray, County Wicklow, as the late singer is laid to rest in a private burial.
Ahead of her funeral today, O’Connor’s family asked people to gather along the streets to pay their respects, with the procession being the only public element of the day.
"The Gardai have asked that people gather, if they would like to say a last goodbye to the singer, from 10.30am on Tuesday along the Bray seafront," the family said in a statement.
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The funeral cortege passed in front of her home earlier today, with fans applauding and throwing flowers at the hearse.
A number of people even paid tribute to the music icon by breaking out into her hit song ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’.
Ann, who works in the CrepeAlicious kiosk opposite Sinead O’Connor’s former Bray home, said the singer had ‘no airs or graces’ about her.
“When Sinead lived over there I had the kiosk here, and she used to come over for an ice cream with her younger son,” she said.
“She’d come over for her little ice cream with sprinkles. She was lovely. Very down to earth, very ordinary. She’d have a bit of craic as well.”
Ann said she had considered not opening the kiosk out of respect for O’Connor, but changed her mind.
“But then I thought, Sinead loved the colour, she used to comment on the colours of the balls [hanging outside the kiosk],” she explained, adding that it had been an ‘amazing’ turnout to say a final goodbye to the singer.
Blue flowers could be seen covering O’Connor’s coffin, while mourners also threw red and yellow flowers on to the roof of the hearse.
Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, an Islamic scholar and Chief Imam at the Islamic Centre of Ireland, delivered the eulogy at the private funeral, saying: “Just as Sinead O’Connor brought diverse souls together through her art, so have you orchestrated a symphony of unity during her final journey.
“Your noble gesture has transcended boundaries and connected strangers, echoing the very essence of Sinead’s legacy.
“In this shared moment of remembrance and prayer, we find ourselves united in a tapestry of love, compassion, and reverence.
“May this ceremony be a testament to the enduring power of humanity’s collective spirit, as we bid farewell to a remarkable soul who touched us all.”
He also gave his ‘heartfelt gratitude’ to O’Connor’s family, saying he was ‘humbled by the privilege’ of delivering the service.