GOODBYE SINEAD
Sinead O’Connor funeral: Bono & Bob Geldof lead mourners as thousands line streets to remember Nothing Compares 2 U star
BONO and Sir Bob Geldof led emotional mourners in saying a "last goodbye" to Sinead O'Connor today as the star was laid to rest.
The Nothing Compares 2 U singer was found dead at her flat in South East London on July 26, aged just 56.
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Sinead is being buried in Bray in her native Ireland after mourners were invited to line the streets for a "last goodbye".
Her cortege travelled along Bray seafront after a private funeral service attended by Bob Geldof and U2 star Bono.
Fans threw flowers on the hearse carrying Sinead's coffin as a Volkswagen camper van accompanying the procession played her music.
There was a round of applause as the cortege paused briefly at her former home, where she lived for 15 years, as mourners wept as they placed their hands on the hearse.
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Imam Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri said in a moving eulogy at Sinead's service that the star had "suffered more than her share of hardship and adversity".
He also told how she would be remembered as a "beloved daughter of Ireland" whose "voice moved a generation of young people".
He added: "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."
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The imam continued: "May her family and loved ones find 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 unflinching honesty as an artist, poet, and human being.
"Sinead 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'."
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Floral tributes have been left outside the singer's former house as grief at Sinead's death continues to grow.
Heartbroken fans thanked the singer for sharing her voice and music as they lit candles for the Grammy winner.
Her family said ahead of the service: "Sinead loved living in Bray and the people in it.
"With this procession, her family would like to acknowledge the outpouring of love for her from the people of County Wicklow and beyond, since she left last week to go to another place.
"The Gardai (police) 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 service follows several vigils held for Sinead across Ireland and the UK in the wake of her tragic death.
Police were called to the singer's new apartment in London on the morning of July 26 following reports of an unresponsive woman.
Tragically Sinead couldn't be saved and was declared dead at the scene shortly after.
No medical cause has been given for her death, which is not being treated as suspicious by police.
The tragedy came just 18 months after her 17-year-old son Shane took his own life.
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Sinead is survived by three children - Jake, Roisin and Yeshua.
The singer was propelled to global stardom in 1990 with her version of Prince hit Nothing Compares 2 U.
She gained notoriety often during her career due to her fierce opinions on political issues, including the child abuse scandal in the Catholic Church.
Before the claims were reported, Sinead famously tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II on NBC’s Saturday Night Live show in 1992.
In 2003 she announced that she was retiring from music but continued to record new material.
Sinead continued to perform as Sinead O'Connor but changed her name to Shuhada' Sadaqat following her conversion to Islam in 2018.
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Following her death, her music management company 67 Management said she had been finishing a new album.
Sinead had also been reviewing tour dates for next year and was also considering "opportunities" around a movie of her book.
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