This is the final resting place for Sinead O’Connor after she was buried as a Muslim in a Catholic cemetery following her funeral where U2’s Bono was among the mourners.
After nearly 5,000 people lined the route to pay their respects to the late Irish singer, her family, Bob Geldof and a Muslim cleric were among the few invited as her body was lowered to the ground at Deansgrange Cemetery in Bray , County Wicklow.
O’Connor was sent to her final resting place, lying on her right side and with her head facing the Qibla, as is Islamic custom, after choosing Islam over Catholicism.
The star, who died aged 56 on July 26, described becoming a Muslim as a “return rather than conversion” after finally turning her back on the Catholic Church after years of attacks, which included tearing up a photo of the pope. on TV.
Her final resting place was marked with flowers removed from the top of her coffin and thrown onto her hearse by well-wishers. A brass plaque on a wooden pedestal read: ‘Sinead O’Connor. Born December 8, 1966. Died July 26, 2023.’
Her grave in the cemetery near Dublin, opened in 1865, is along a wall close to the entrance in an area called ‘The Garden’ and is surrounded by Catholic graves.
The grave of Sinead O’Connor is pictured today in Deansgrange Cemetery in Bray, County Wicklow
Shaykh Dr. Umar Al-Qadri, an Islamic scholar and head imam of the Islamic Center of Ireland, who met the star in 2018, is pictured next to the grave in Deansgrange cemetery yesterday
A plain brass plaque on a wooden pedestal in Deansgrange Cemetery in Bray reads: ‘Sinead O’Connor. Born December 8, 1966. Died July 26, 2023’
Flowers at Sinead O’Connor’s grave in ‘The Garden’ of Deansgrange Cemetery today
Shaykh Dr. Umar Al-Qadri, an Islamic scholar and head imam of the Islamic Center of Ireland, who met the star in 2018, led the ceremony and offered prayers. The imam was a friend of the singer and described herself as her “spiritual guide”.
On Twitter, Dr Umar Al-Qadri posted a photo of herself at her grave and a message from the Irish Muslim Council at the site, which read: ‘The Muslim world mourns the loss of Ireland’s daughter, Sister Sinéad O’Connor (Shuhada ). May she rest in peace.’
Pale roses adorned her grave, accompanied by blue hydrangeas that had surrounded her coffin as it was driven through the coastal town of Bray yesterday.
Hundreds of locals and fans of the singer gathered outside her former home, Montebello, where she had lived for 15 years, after her family asked to line Strand Road for “one last goodbye.”
The singer’s former home, which was sold in 2021 and now stands empty, has been turned into a makeshift sanctuary since her death in London two weeks ago.
The wall outside the property is covered with flowers, photos and candles, as well as handwritten notes addressed to the singer thanking her for her voice, her music and her bravery.
At a private funeral service held yesterday – attended by Irish President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar – Dr. ‘symphony of unity’ that ‘crossed boundaries’.
After the service, the hearse carrying her coffin drove through throngs of mourners and past her former home — to the sound of Bob Marley playing from a Volkswagen camper decorated with the Pride and Rastafari flags.
Sinead O’Connor is buried in ‘The Garden’ section of Deansgrange Cemetery
Flowers at Sinead O’Connor’s grave in ‘The Garden’ of Deansgrange Cemetery today
Deansgrange Cemetery is the final resting place for Sinead O’Connor after she was buried
Grammy Award winner Sinead O’Connor passed away on July 26 in London at the age of 56
People followed the procession down the road, some dancing, some crying, some touching the window at the back of the hearse with a picture of Sinead, before the procession moved on to the private funeral yesterday.
Dr. Umar Al-Qadri said O’Connor had a “moving and private” funeral with Muslim prayers. He added that she has “never been away from God,” unlike others who have “difficulties and trials” in their lives.
He told the PA news agency: “Obviously the funeral was private (to) the family and it was a very moving ceremony and I think it really reflected Sinead’s beautiful personality.
“It was very spiritual and it reflected both her Irish identity and her Muslim identity. So I was with the members of the Muslim community and we performed the Janazah prayer, the Islamic funeral prayer, over Sinead.”
Thousands lined the streets of Bray yesterday to pay tribute to Irish singer Sinead O’Connor
Fans of singer Sinead O’Connor lined the streets yesterday for a ‘final goodbye’ in Bray
Sinead O’Connor’s casket is outside her former coastal home, Montebello
A hearse carrying the coffin of the late Irish singer Sinead O’Connor passes in Bray yesterday
Dr. Umar Al-Qadri helped convert O’Connor – who changed her name to Shuhada’ Davitt, later Shuhada’ Sadaqat – to Islam.
He added, “She was an amazing human being who was not only a great musician or artist, but one who would reach the hearts of millions of people because of her voice, but also because of the great content.
“Whatever she said had a deep meaning. She had always had a strong faith and conviction in God, which motivated her to study theology.
“She studied different religions, religions and essentially, when she studied Islam, she thought, ‘This was the religion I was always looking for. This was exactly the faith I was always looking for. I’ve always been a Muslim, but I never knew that’.
Bono and the Edge leave a funeral home in Bray yesterday after a service for Sinead. They also appeared with U2’s bassist Adam Clayton. Bono would have sung during the service
Bob Geldof followed Sinead O’Connor’s coffin in a taxi to the private funeral in Bray yesterday
The extraordinary scenes as the hearse slowly drove through Bray in Co Wicklow yesterday
Fans sang Sinead O’Connor’s greatest hits yesterday, which also came out of the speakers
The Islamic scholar also revealed O’Connor’s eulogy online, saying he expressed his “heartfelt gratitude” to her family and added that he was “humbled by the privilege” of providing her service.
He wrote, “Just as Sinead O’Connor brought together different souls through her art, so on her last journey you orchestrated a symphony of unity.
“Your noble gesture has crossed boundaries and connected strangers, reflecting the essence of Sinead’s legacy.
In this shared moment of memory and prayer we are united in a tapestry of love, compassion and reverence.
“May this ceremony be a testament to the enduring power of the collective spirit of humanity as we bid farewell to a remarkable soul who has touched us all.”