Sinead O’Connor’s funeral as it happened: Bono and Bob Geldof among mourners at private service
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.
Key Points
Irish singer’s death not being treated as suspicious, police say
Sinead O’Connor’s funeral details revealed as mourners encouraged to line Bray seafront
What time is the procession expected to start?
Fans gather in Bray for Sinead O’Connor’s funeral
President of Ireland to attend private funeral for singer
Sinead O’Connor’s funeral details revealed as mourners encouraged to line Bray seafront
Tuesday 8 August 2023 07:02 , Peony Hirwani
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
Tuesday 8 August 2023 07:15 , Peony Hirwani
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?
Tuesday 8 August 2023 07:33 , Peony Hirwani
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
Tuesday 8 August 2023 07:50 , Peony Hirwani
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
Fans leave heartfelt messages for Sinead O’Connor in book of condolence
Tuesday 8 August 2023 08:10 , Peony Hirwani
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
No medical cause given for Sinead O’Connor’s death
Tuesday 8 August 2023 08:30 , Peony Hirwani
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:
No medical cause given for Sinead O’Connor’s death
Watch: Hillside tribute unveiled close to town where Sinead O’Connor will be buried
Tuesday 8 August 2023 08:45 , Peony Hirwani
ICYMI: All-Ireland final paid tribute to Sinead O’Connor
Tuesday 8 August 2023 09:00 , Peony Hirwani
All-Ireland final pays tribute to late Sinead O’Connor
Tuesday 8 August 2023 09:15 , Peony Hirwani
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
Tuesday 8 August 2023 09:30 , Peony Hirwani
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
Sinead O’Connor’s open letter that issued a warning to Miley Cyrus
Tuesday 8 August 2023 09:53 , Roisin O'Connor
After the release of her viral music video for her hit single “Wrecking Ball”, Miley Cyrus (then-20 years old) told Rolling Stone magazine that she’d been inspired by O’Connor’s accompanying visuals for “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990).
In response, O’Connor wrote to Cyrus “in the spirit of motherliness and with love”.
She told the young artist that it wasn’t “‘cool’ to be naked and licking sledgehammers in your videos” and that she was in fact being “pimped” by the music industry.
Read the full letter O’Connor wrote to Cyrus:
Sinead O’Connor’s open letter with a warning for Miley Cyrus
Fans to line the streets for final farewell to Sinead O’Connor
Tuesday 8 August 2023 09:59 , Roisin O'Connor
Fans are expected to line an Irish coastal road to bid farewell to the acclaimed singer, as the cortege passes by before a private burial.
Handwritten notes left outside her former home in Bray, Co Wicklow, thanked her 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, located on the seafront, with pink flowers and a photo of the singer placed at the base of the chair.
One sign left at the wall of the property listed causes that the singer had expressed support for, including welcoming refugees: “Where words fail, music speaks.”
A neighbour was also seen putting candles on the wall that separated the two properties.
Tuesday 8 August 2023 10:07 , Press Association
Hand-written notes addressed to Sinead O'Connor have been left outside the late singer's former home in Bray, Co Wicklow, thanking her for sharing her voice and her music.
A pink chair has been placed outside the pink-framed conservatory of the house, located on the seafront, with pink flowers and a photo of the singer placed at the base of the chair.
One sign left at the wall of the property listed causes that the singer had expressed support for, including welcoming refugees: “Where words fail, music speaks.”
Tuesday 8 August 2023 10:14 , Roisin O'Connor
A local musician has remembered singing with Sinead O'Connor in her home town of Bray, describing her as a “big icon” in the area with a “heart of gold”.
Tom Dalton, who ran acoustic singing sessions in a local pub with his band Celtic Grace, told of his surprise when he discovered he was singing with acclaimed star O'Connor in 2019, having not initially recognised her.
He told BBC Breakfast co-hosts Rachel Burden and Jon Kay: “We set it up there every Wednesday night, we had a poster up just down the road...I was there Wednesday evening in 2019.
“She (O'Connor) wasn't performing at the time, she was in a quiet mode. But anyway, this lady wandered in with a big Quake guitar...and I didn't recognise her at first. She walked in and she said 'What are you doing?'
“I said we do the round-robin and we just sing, and she sang the most beautiful song and played the guitar. I'd never heard her play the guitar and many people probably haven't.
“But anyway, we're doing the round-robin, and it came around and she sang and it was gorgeous. We went back around again and one of the girls started singing Amazing Grace, she joined in and played and sang, I joined in with her, she sang the second verse, and I sang the last verse.
“It was absolutely fabulous.”
Mr Dalton said he was praised for staying calm but had to confess he had not known it was the Nothing Compares 2 U singer at first.
“Two lovely ladies were there that night and said, 'Tom, you handled that so well' and I had to tell the truth, that when she walked in I didn't recognise her, but the minute I heard the voice, I knew who it was,” he said.
He continued: “She just stood up after about an hour and she went and we didn't hassle her, we didn't ask her for a photograph, there was nothing. It was just a complete and beautiful night.
“To meet her in that setting and such a beautiful lady, it was absolutely fabulous. To have had the pleasure to meet her and sing with her was something that's just hard to describe, without giving me the teary-eyed.”
The local musician also spoke about how the community felt about having the global superstar living in Bray, ahead of her funeral on Tuesday.
He added: “She was a really big icon here in the town, she was brilliant, she walked up and down, she talked to everyone and she was really a fabulous person...she really had a heart of gold.
“She really was a lovely, lovely lady and I've met only on one occasion, we sang with her, but she really was a gorgeous lady, I'm so sad for her, what a fantastic singer.
“It's a sad day but the town will remember her and she's an icon here in Bray and always will be.”
Reporting by Press Association
What police have said about Sinead O’Connor’s death
Tuesday 8 August 2023 10:18 , Roisin O'Connor
Sinead O’Connor’s death is not being treated as suspicious, police said in a statement on 28 July.
As tributes poured in for the Irish singer after her death aged 56, police disclosed that she was found “unresponsive” in “a residential address” in the Lambeth area of London.
O’Connor’s death was confirmed by her family in a statement. The cause of her death has yet to be disclosed.
Days before she died, O’Connor shared a tribute to her 17-year-old son, who died in 2022, in what would be her final social media post.
Police issue statement after Sinead O’Connor’s death
Tributes paid to Sinead O’Connor ahead of funeral
Tuesday 8 August 2023 10:29 , Isobel Lewis
Ahead of O’Connor’s funeral today, flowers and tributes have been placed outside the singer’s home in Bray, eastern Ireland.
Roads to close near Sinead O’Connor’s former home as fans gather
Tuesday 8 August 2023 10:35 , Isobel Lewis
Roads will be closed near Sinead O’Connor’s former home so fans can gather to pay their respects as the late Irish singer’s funeral procession passes.
People have been meeting outside the “Nothing Compares 2 U” singer’s old house in Bray, Co Wicklow, to lay notes and flowers.
They will then line the coastal road to bid her farewell when the procession leaves the private service.
A statement from the Gardai said: “In keeping with her family’s wishes, following a private service, members of the public will be able to pay their respects and are asked to gather at the Strand Road/Promenade area between 11.30am and 12.30pm.
“It is expected the funeral procession will stop briefly in this area at some stage between these times... Gardai will be in attendance and, if needed, further rolling road closures may be put in place.”
Road closures are expected to be in place from 11.30am to 12.30pm in the Strand Road/Promenade area, with all other traffic to be diverted on to the Adelaide Road.
People paying their respects are advised to use public transport where possible.
Additional reporting by Press Association.
Trains ‘significantly busier than normal’ as mourners pour into Bray for Sinead O’Connor’s funeral
Tuesday 8 August 2023 10:42 , Isobel Lewis
With fans encouraged to visit Bray to pay their respects by bus today, train services in Co Wicklow are “significantly busier than normal”.
A spokesman for Irish Rail told PA: “Darts arriving to Bray are significantly busier than normal for mid-morning services, with people travelling to pay their respects to Sinead O’Connor.
“Our station manager advises me the last three trains arriving in particular have been quite busy, and that’s expected to continue over the next hour.”
Additional reporting by Press Association.
Tuesday 8 August 2023 10:49 , Isobel Lewis
A Volkswagen camper decorated with flowers and Pride flags has arrived outside the house where O’Connor lived in Bray.
The vehicle is playing the singer’s hits out of speakers mounted on the roof as crowds gather.
Tuesday 8 August 2023 10:55 , Isobel Lewis
Fans have left a number of emotion-packed notes to O’Connor near her house.
One reads: “Thanks for your short, special life. Gone too soon. Give your lovely son Shane a hug for me in heaven. Have a nice long rest with Shane.”
O’Connor’s son Shane died by suicide in January 2022 aged 17.
Tuesday 8 August 2023 11:04 , Isobel Lewis
The Strand Road in Bray is now packed with wellwishers lining the seaside route passing Sinead O’Connor’s former home.
Many are holding flowers before the funeral cortege for the singer arrives.
President of Ireland to attend Sinead O’Connor’s funeral
Tuesday 8 August 2023 11:14 , Isobel Lewis
The president of Ireland has issued a statement saying he is attending the private funeral service for Sinead O’Connor.
Michael D Higgins said: “The outpouring of grief and appreciation of the life and work of Sinead O’Connor demonstrates the profound impact which she had on the Irish people.
“The unique contribution of Sinead involved the experience of a great vulnerability combined with a superb, exceptional level of creativity that she chose to deliver through her voice, her music and her songs.”
Higgins continued: “The expression of both, without making any attempt to reduce the one for the sake of the other, made her contribution unique - phenomenal in music terms, but of immense heroism.
“However, achieving this came from the one heart and the one body and the one life, which extracted an incredible pain, perhaps one too much to bear. That is why all those who are seeking to make a fist of their life, combining its different dimensions in their own way, can feel so free to express their grief at her loss.”
Reporting by Press Association.
Tuesday 8 August 2023 11:32 , Isobel Lewis
Crowds are standing on walls outside Sinead O’Connor’s Irish home as they pack the Bray seafront in Co Wicklow ahead of her funeral procession.
Fans were seen holding flowers and Irish flags while police attempted to organise the crowds.
Fans grow emotional as they gather to pay respects to Sinead O’Connor
Tuesday 8 August 2023 11:40 , Isobel Lewis
Many fans grew emotional and were seen crying as they paid their respects to Sinead O’Connor before her private funeral.
Chief Imam to lead Muslim funeral prayer for Sinead O’Connor
Tuesday 8 August 2023 11:52 , Isobel Lewis
The imam who will be leading the Muslim funeral prayer for Sinead O’Connor said it is “an honour” to be part of the occasion.
Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, an Islamic scholar and Chief Imam at the Islamic Centre of Ireland, met the star in 2018.
Al-Qadri said he was “incredibly grateful” for the opportunity to celebrate her life.
The imam said: “Today, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead the Muslim funeral prayer for the daughter of Ireland, Sinead O’Connor AKA Shuhada Sadaqat.
“It is an honour to be part of this occasion, and I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the family for recognising and embracing her Muslim identity.”
Additional reporting by Press Association.
Fans sing ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ outside Sinead O’Connor’s home
Tuesday 8 August 2023 11:57 , Isobel Lewis
Fans gathered outside Sinead O’Connor’s home in Bray, Co Wicklow, have started singing her hit song “Nothing Compares 2 U”.
First recorded by Prince’s band The Family in 1985, the song became a hit for O’Connor in 1990 and topped the charts in Ireland, the UK and US.
Sinead O’Connor funeral procession begins as coffin makes its way along seafront
Tuesday 8 August 2023 12:04 , Isobel Lewis
The hearse bearing Sinead O’Connor’s coffin is making its way along the Bray seafront.
The coffin is adorned with blue flowers, with mourners throwing red and yellow flowers onto the roof of the vehicle.
The hearse is followed by a campervan playing her music.
Tuesday 8 August 2023 12:19 , Isobel Lewis
Sinead O’Connor’s funeral cortege has passed in front of her former home in Bray, Co Wicklow.
Fans, who have been gathering outside the house since this morning, applauded and threw flowers at the hearse. Many are now following the vehicle as it makes its way down the seafront.
Tuesday 8 August 2023 12:21 , Isobel Lewis
Watch below as Sinead O’Connor’s funeral procession passes through Bray, the Irish town she lived in before her death.
Sinead O’Connor remembered for her ‘otherworldly resonance’ in funeral eulogy
Tuesday 8 August 2023 12:32 , Isobel Lewis
Sinead O’Connor was remembered for experiencing “more than her share of hardship and adversity” during a eulogy at her funeral.
Speaking during the private service, Imam Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri said: “Gifted with a voice that moved a generation of young people, she could reduce listeners to tears by her otherworldly resonance.
“One need only listen to her a cappella version of ‘Danny Boy’ or the traditional Irish tune ‘Molly Malone’ to know this about her gift. Sinead‘s voice carried with it an undertone of hope, of finding one’s way home.
“The Irish people have long found solace in song from the sufferings of this lower abode, and Sinead was no exception, and in sharing that solace, she brought joy to countless people the world over.”
Tuesday 8 August 2023 12:37 , Isobel Lewis
Delivering the eulogy, Imam Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri said: “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.”
He continued: “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.”
Huge crowds gather as funeral procession moves through Bray
Tuesday 8 August 2023 12:43 , Isobel Lewis
The size of the crowds coming to pay their respects can be seen in the pictures below.
Tuesday 8 August 2023 12:48 , Isobel Lewis
Bob Geldof and U2 musician Bono are understood to be among the mourners at O’Connor’s private funeral.
Tuesday 8 August 2023 13:09 , Isobel Lewis
Bob Geldof has been pictured riding in a taxi as part of the funeral cortege for Sinead O'Connor ahead of her funeral.
Speaking ahead of the funeral, Geldof recalled his last conversations with O’Connor.
“Many, many times Sinead was full of a terrible loneliness and a terrible despair,” he said. “She was a very good friend of mine.
“We were talking right up to a couple of weeks ago. Some of her texts were laden with desperation and despair and some were ecstatically happy. She was like that.”
Tuesday 8 August 2023 13:48 , Isobel Lewis
Sinead O’Connor’s funeral procession was attended by emotional fans who left notes and flowers for the singer.
Fans leave heartfelt messages for Sinead O’Connor in book of condolence
Tuesday 8 August 2023 15:30 , Inga Parkel
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’s funeral details revealed as mourners encouraged to line Bray seafront
Tuesday 8 August 2023 16:00 , Inga Parkel
The funeral of the late singer Sinead O’Connor was held on Tuesday, with people being invited to line a Co Wicklow seafront where she used to live as a “last goodbye”.
The cortege travelled 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 passed 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
President of Ireland in attendance at Sinead O’Connor’s funeral
Tuesday 8 August 2023 16:30 , Inga Parkel
The president of Ireland issued a statement saying he is attending the private funeral service for Sinead O’Connor.
Michael D Higgins said: “The outpouring of grief and appreciation of the life and work of Sinead O’Connor demonstrates the profound impact which she had on the Irish people.
“The unique contribution of Sinead involved the experience of a great vulnerability combined with a superb, exceptional level of creativity that she chose to deliver through her voice, her music and her songs.”
Higgins continued: “The expression of both, without making any attempt to reduce the one for the sake of the other, made her contribution unique – phenomenal in music terms, but of immense heroism.
“However, achieving this came from the one heart and the one body and the one life, which extracted an incredible pain, perhaps one too much to bear. That is why all those who are seeking to make a fist of their life, combining its different dimensions in their own way, can feel so free to express their grief at her loss.”
Reporting by Press Association.
Tuesday 8 August 2023 17:00 , Inga Parkel
Tuesday 8 August 2023 17:30 , Inga Parkel
Fans have left a number of emotion-packed notes to O’Connor near her house.
One reads: “Thanks for your short, special life. Gone too soon. Give your lovely son Shane a hug for me in heaven. Have a nice long rest with Shane.”
O’Connor’s son Shane died by suicide in January 2022 aged 17.
Trains ‘significantly busier than normal’ as mourners pour into Bray for Sinead O’Connor’s funeral
Tuesday 8 August 2023 18:00 , Inga Parkel
With fans encouraged to visit Bray to pay their respects by bus today, train services in Co Wicklow are “significantly busier than normal”.
A spokesman for Irish Rail told PA: “Darts arriving to Bray are significantly busier than normal for mid-morning services, with people travelling to pay their respects to Sinead O’Connor.
“Our station manager advises me the last three trains arriving, in particular, have been quite busy, and that’s expected to continue over the next hour.”
Additional reporting by Press Association.
What police have said about Sinead O’Connor’s death
Tuesday 8 August 2023 18:30 , Inga Parkel
Sinead O’Connor’s death is not being treated as suspicious, police said in a statement on 28 July.
As tributes poured in for the Irish singer after her death aged 56, police disclosed that she was found “unresponsive” in “a residential address” in the Lambeth area of London.
O’Connor’s death was confirmed by her family in a statement. The cause of her death has yet to be disclosed.
Days before she died, O’Connor shared a tribute to her 17-year-old son, who died in 2022, in what would be her final social media post.
Read more:
Police issue statement after Sinead O’Connor’s death
Musician’s family was alerted after she was found ‘unresponsive’
Sinead O’Connor’s open letter that issued a warning to Miley Cyrus
Tuesday 8 August 2023 19:00 , Inga Parkel
After the release of her viral music video for her hit single “Wrecking Ball”, Miley Cyrus (then-20 years old) told Rolling Stone magazine that she’d been inspired by O’Connor’s accompanying visuals for “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990).
In response, O’Connor wrote to Cyrus “in the spirit of motherliness and with love”.
She told the young artist that it wasn’t “‘cool’ to be naked and licking sledgehammers in your videos” and that she was in fact being “pimped” by the music industry.
Read the full letter O’Connor wrote to Cyrus:
Sinead O’Connor’s open letter with a warning for Miley Cyrus
Cyrus compared the music video for her 2013 hit ‘Wrecking Ball’ to the visuals for O’Connor’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’
Tuesday 8 August 2023 19:30 , Inga Parkel
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.”
Tuesday 8 August 2023 20:00 , Inga Parkel
Sinead O’Connor fans gathered to sing ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ in Dublin tribute
Tuesday 8 August 2023 20:30 , Inga Parkel
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.
Tuesday 8 August 2023 21:00 , Inga Parkel
Bob Geldof has been pictured riding in a taxi as part of the funeral cortege for Sinead O’Connor ahead of her funeral.
Speaking ahead of the funeral, Geldof recalled his last conversations with O’Connor.
“Many, many times Sinead was full of a terrible loneliness and a terrible despair,” he said. “She was a very good friend of mine.
“We were talking right up to a couple of weeks ago. Some of her texts were laden with desperation and despair and some were ecstatically happy. She was like that.”
Huge crowds gather as funeral procession moves through Bray
Tuesday 8 August 2023 21:30 , Inga Parkel
The size of the crowds coming to pay their respects can be seen in the pictures below.
Sinead O’Connor remembered for her ‘otherworldly resonance’ in funeral eulogy
Tuesday 8 August 2023 22:00 , Inga Parkel
Sinead O’Connor was remembered for experiencing “more than her share of hardship and adversity” during a eulogy at her funeral.
Speaking during the private service, Imam Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri said: “Gifted with a voice that moved a generation of young people, she could reduce listeners to tears by her otherworldly resonance.
“One need only listen to her a cappella version of ‘Danny Boy’ or the traditional Irish tune ‘Molly Malone’ to know this about her gift. Sinead‘s voice carried with it an undertone of hope, of finding one’s way home.
“The Irish people have long found solace in song from the sufferings of this lower abode, and Sinead was no exception, and in sharing that solace, she brought joy to countless people the world over.”
Sinead O’Connor funeral procession began with coffin making its way along seafront
Tuesday 8 August 2023 22:30 , Inga Parkel
The hearse bearing Sinead O’Connor’s coffin made its way along the Bray seafront.
The coffin was adorned with blue flowers, with mourners throwing red and yellow flowers onto the roof of the vehicle.
The hearse was followed by a campervan playing her music.
Tuesday 8 August 2023 23:00 , Inga Parkel
Crowds were standing on walls outside Sinead O’Connor’s Irish home as they packed the Bray seafront in Co Wicklow ahead of her funeral procession.
Fans were seen holding flowers and Irish flags while police attempted to organise the crowds.
