Fans are expected to line an Irish coastal road to say goodbye to Sinead O’Connor ahead of her funeral today.
The acclaimed singer’s family has asked those wishing to say a ‘last goodbye’ to line up along the coast at Bray in Co Wicklow as the procession passes by for a private funeral.
The procession is expected to begin at 10:30am at the Harbor Bar end of the Strand Road and will continue past her former home, Montebello, where she lived for 15 years.
Since her death on July 26, people have been laying flowers and paying their respects at the house, which the singer sold in 2021 and which now stands empty.
“Sinead loved living in Bray and the people there,” her family said in a statement.
Irish Grammy-winning singer Sinead O’Connor was found unconscious by police at her home in South East London at the age of 56
The acclaimed singer’s family has asked those wishing to say a ‘last goodbye’ to line up along the coast at Bray in Co Wicklow as the procession passes by for a private funeral.
“With this procession her family wants to acknowledge the love for her from the people of Co Wicklow and beyond since she left last week to go to another place.”
The Irish Grammy-winning singer was found unconscious by police at her south-east London home at the age of 56.
A host of tributes have poured in from fans and famous artists around the world in response to her death, including Russell Crowe, Annie Lennox, Cyndi Lauper, and Bob Geldof.
In the days following O’Connor’s death, several rallies were held in Dublin, Belfast and London where members of the public paid tribute to her legacy as a musician and activist.
Born in Dublin in December 1966, O’Connor released her first album The Lion And The Cobra in 1987.
Her second studio album, I Do Not Want What I Have’t Got, followed in 1990, which featured the hit single Nothing Compares 2 U, which helped O’Connor top the charts in countries around the world.
The song earned her multiple Grammy Award nominations, including for the prestigious Record of the Year category, as well as Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Music Video.
In 1991, she was named Artist of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine and won the Brit Award for International Female Solo Artist.
The late singer Sinead O’Connor pictured outside her home of 15 in County Wicklow
A giant installation in honor of the late musician and activist Sinéad O’Connor was unveiled at Bray Head, Co Wicklow, Ireland on Sunday
A heartfelt tribute to the beloved Irish singer outside her former home
She released another eight studio albums, the last being 2014’s I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss.
In 2018, O’Connor announced she had converted to Islam and changed her name to Shuhada’ Sadaqat.
The cleric who led her conversion to Islam, Umar Al-Qadri, Ireland’s chief imam, posted a message to his Facebook page yesterday, describing her as a “beacon of truth and example of Islam’s wonderful leadership”. ‘.
He said, ‘She has returned to her creator. Her conversion to Islam testified to the transcendent power of faith, which transcended cultural divides and broke down walls of misunderstanding and prejudice.
Sister Shuhada’s journey underlined that embracing Islam is not just a change of name or dress, but a search for personal truth, acceptance of one’s imperfections, and submission to the divine.
“This path, filled with petals and thorns, is one we must walk with empathy and humility.
Imam Al-Qadri, who said he had been Sinead’s “spiritual guide,” added: “May God enfold our sister Shuhada with his loving mercy, forgive her shortcomings and grant her a place in the highest heavens.
“May He comfort her loved ones during this difficult time, and guide us all to live lives that reflect the true essence of Islam.”
Fan Karen Kehoe (pictured) with the flower wreath she designed outside Sinead O’Connor’s former home in Bray, Co. Wicklow
A photograph of Sinead O’Connor at Dublin’s Mansion House as a book of condolence has been opened following her death
He called on Muslims to pray at 11 a.m. tomorrow to coincide with her private funeral.
“We can express our respect, love and solidarity for our late sister, reflecting the values she tirelessly defended.”
On Sunday, a tribute to Sinead was unveiled at Bray Head in northern County Wicklow, Ireland, close to where she lived.
A short distance from Sinead’s house on Strand Road, a sign reading ‘ÉIRE SINÉAD’ and a white heart was placed close to the ‘ÉIRE’ World War II memorial.
The letters of the moving sign are each 30 feet high and the tribute was the brainchild of The Tenth Man bosses, in collaboration with mural specialists, Mack Signs.
In 2018, O’Connor announced she had converted to Islam and changed her name to Shuhada’ Sadaqat
Richard Seabrooke, Tenth Man’s executive creative director, said: ‘So much has been said about Sinead since her recent passing, I’m not sure what else there is to say.
“We just wanted to take the opportunity to mark the moment with a bold statement that symbolizes what she meant to this little country of ours.”
After her death, her music management company 67 Management said she was finalizing a new album, reviewing tour dates for next year and also considering “opportunities” around a film adaptation of her book.
O’Connor’s death is not being treated as suspicious by authorities.
A London coroner found no medical cause of death and suggested the results of the post-mortem examination could take several weeks.