Bono leads celebrity mourners paying tribute to Sinead O'Connor at her funeral
Sir Bob Geldof and Bono were among a host of stars turning out to pay their respects to Sinead O’Connor - who was put to rest in Bray, Ireland, on Tuesday morning.
Tragic Sinead passed away last month at the age of 56 and following years of mental health and drug addiction struggles. Her death also came a year after the heartbreaking suicide of her 17-year-old son, Shane - whose death she struggled to cope with.
A private service took place on Tuesday ahead of a funeral procession that passed along the seafront in Bray - where the singer had lived for 15 years. The singer’s family released a statement ahead of the funeral proceedings to inform fans of plans.
They wrote: "With this procession, her family would like to acknowledge the outpouring of love for her from the people of Co. Wicklow and beyond, since she left last week, to go to another place. Slán leat - Me a go - 'Ma'a salama."
The iconic singer Sinead O'Connor passed away at her London home in July 2023 (Redferns via Getty Images)A host of celebrities were at the service to bid farewell to the tragic singer. Sir Bob Geldof arrived wearing dark sunglasses and a black suit on Tuesday morning.
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While U2 stars Bono and Edge were also among the mourners attending the ceremony. The pair both wore black and looked downcast as they arrived at Coliers funeral home in Bray.
Heartbreakingly, Sinead herself had expressed a desire to outlive Bono. She tweeted back in 2018: “You wanna know what finally stops me whenever I feel suicidal (rarely) since 2016 (ain’t done anything silly since then) is the idea Bono might speak at my funeral.
Bono and Edge leaving Coliers funeral home in Bray following a service in honour of late Sinead O'Connor (Padraig O'Reilly)“He’d sh**e on, is the thing. ‘But oh, didn’t we love her, national treasure’ – bleh. Reasons for living, definitely [the] best reason for living. Must stay alive longer than Bono.”
Liam O Maonlai, lead singer of the Irish rock band Hot House Flowers, was among those mourning the star on Tuesday. Ahead of the funeral, the 58-year-old singer passed by the former home of Sinead.
Boomtown Rats singer Sir Bob Geldof was also among mourners at Sinead's service (Padraig O'Reilly)Speaking to the PA news agency, Liam said: “The career-minded (musicians) who stay within a parameter of what they’re told to do. They find a formula and they stick to it. She didn’t do that.” He also said that he last spoke to O’Connor at a birthday party either last year or the year before.
Ireland's president, Michael D Higgins, also attended the ceremony. He 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.
Liam O Maonlai, lead singer of the Hot House Flowers, paid tribute outside Sinead's former home ahead of her funeral (PA)“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.
“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.”
Hundreds of fans lined the streets of Bray as they queued to bid farewell to the Nothing Compares 2 U singer. Crowds parted to allow the funeral procession to pass through the town as the star was taken to the nearby Coliers funeral home.
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Sinead died at her home in London on 26 July. A cause of death has yet to be revealed, with London Inner South Coroners' Court confirming last month that the results of an autopsy could take weeks to be shared publicly.
Hundreds of mourners packed the streets of Bray to pay respects and bid farewell to Sinead (PA)Police previously confirmed that they were not treating the singer’s death as suspicious. The Met said in a statement: "Police were called at 11:18hrs on Wednesday, 26 July to reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential address in the SE24 area. Officers attended. A 56-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Next of kin have been notified. The death is not being treated as suspicious. A file will be prepared for the Coroner."
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