Bono and Bob Geldof among mourners as

‘beloved’ Sinéad O’Connor laid to rest

IRELAND

The life of the Irish singer was celebrated at a private ceremony, before the funeral cortege travelled past her former home
in Bray, so fans could pay their respects before a private burial. Photo: PA Wire/PA Images

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08/08/2023 | 13:20 PM
BY LAURA HARDING AND CHARLOTTE MCLAUGHLIN, PA

Sinéad O’Connor has been remembered as a “beloved daughter of Ireland” with “a poet’s
heart” whose “voice moved a generation of young people” after her funeral, where U2 star
Bono and Bob Geldof were among the mourners.

The life of the Irish singer was celebrated at a private ceremony, before the funeral cortege
travelled past her former home in Bray, so fans could pay their respects before a private burial.

President Michael Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar were also in attendance, where
Muslim funeral prayers were led by Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, an Islamic scholar and Chief
Imam at the Islamic Centre of Ireland, who met the star in 2018.
Bob Geldof rides in a taxi as part of the funeral cortege for Sinéad O’Connor (Liam McBurney/PA)

In a eulogy he shared online after the ceremony, Dr Umar Al-Qadri said: “The more she sang
and spoke about her own pain, as well as about the pervasive sins in society that she
witnessed, the more her voice and her words resonated with listeners and touched their
hearts. Sinéad never stopped her search to know God fully, exemplifying a life marked with a
deep communion with God.

“Gifted with a voice that moved a generation of young people, she could reduce listeners to
tears by her otherworldly resonance.”

He added: “I know that peoples of all faiths throughout the world will be praying for this
beloved daughter of Ireland, among them will be countless Muslims praying for their sister in
faith and humanity.

“Eulogy for Sister Shuhada Sinéad O’Connor #SineadOConnor

https://t.co/2enIdXEtng pic.twitter.com/TR7UIrJevT

— Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri (@DrUmarAlQadri) August 8, 2023”

“Sinéad’s voice carried with it an undertone of hope, of �nding one’s way home. The Irish
people have long found solace in song from the sufferings of this lower abode, and Sinéad
was no exception, and in sharing that solace, she brought joy to countless people the world
over.”

He continued: “May her family and loved ones �nd solace in the outpouring of love from the
corners of this earth for this unique daughter of Ireland who moved so many hearts with her
mighty voice and un�inching honesty as an artist, poet, and human being.

“Sinéad had a poet’s heart and, I believe, would share with us today the sentiments of the poet,
Rumi when he said: ‘This place is a dream. Only a sleeper considers it real. Then death comes
like dawn, and you wake up laughing at what you thought was your grief’.”

Fans of singer Sinéad O’Connor throw �owers on her hearse (Liam McBurney/PA)

Roads were closed so fans could line the streets to pay their respects as the hearse bearing
O’Connor’s co�n passed by her former home on the seafront.

As it stopped outside the property, Montebello, where she lived for 15 years, fans applauded
and threw �owers.

The co�n itself was covered in blue and pink �owers.

A Volkswagen camper van decorated with the Pride �ag and the Rastafarian �ag drove in
front of the hearse, with O’Connor’s songs playing from speakers mounted on the roof.
A camper van leads the procession (Niall Carson/PA)

Fans started gathering early this morning outside the home to wait for the cortege to pass by.

Many laid �owers and handwritten notes, thanking O’Connor for sharing her voice and her
music.

One note said: “You are forever in my heart.”

A pink chair was placed outside the pink-framed conservatory of the house, with pink �owers,
candles and a photo of the singer placed at the base of the chair.

A heart-shaped �oral bouquet featured a picture of the star and two Irish �ags.

One sign left at the wall of the property listed causes that the singer had expressed support
for, including welcoming refugees.

It read: “Where words fail, music speaks.”

Tributes left outside Sinéad O’Connor’s former home (Niall Carson/PA)

A neighbour was also seen putting candles on the wall that separated the two properties.

Since O’Connor’s death on July 26th, people have been leaving �owers and paying their
respects at the house, which the singer sold in 2021 and now lies empty.

The Grammy Award-winner was found unresponsive on July 26 by police at her south-east
London home at the age of 56.

TOPICS

CO WICKLOW, O'CONNOR, BRAY, FUNERAL, IRELAND, GRAMMY, SINEAD O'CONNOR, BRIT AWARD,
NOTHING COMPARES 2 U

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