Sinead O’Connor was laid to rest in a private ceremony close to Bray, Ireland, the musician’s former home. Fans were invited to a procession to say their final goodbyes before the burial.
Along the waterfront in Bray, a vintage VW camper van blaring Bob Marley’s song “Natural Mystic” from its rooftop speakers guided a hearse at a strolling pace. O’Connor said that she cherished Marley’s songs.
Roses and other flowers were thrown into the hearse by fans of O’Connor’s music and people who were affected by her occasionally difficult life. Before the parade started, one group waited for more than an hour. They passed the time by singing songs by O’Connor.
“Sinéad cherished her time in Bray and the residents. In a statement to The Irish Times, O’Connor’s family said: “With this procession, her family would like to commemorate the outpouring of love for her from the people of Co[unty] Wicklow and beyond, since she left last week to go to another place.
The funeral procession would travel “along the seafront in Bray, past the home she lived in for 15 years, Montobello, Strand Road in Bray, Co Wicklow,” according to the announcement.
O’Connor’s representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Ruth O’Shea, who had travelled with her two kids to the coastal town of Bray south of Dublin, shed tears as she spoke of O’Connor’s importance, stating that she had “meant the world” to her.
“My mother despised her when I listened to her music because she was so rebellious, empowering, and inspirational”, O’Shea said. “She was just brilliant. Brilliant — I adored her, and the kids would say, Oh God, mom’s listening to Sinéad O’Connor, she’s obviously having a rough day. I think through osmosis since I portrayed her when they were both growing up. I was only given hope by her. And I was simply in love with her.”
The death of O’Connor was reported on July 26.
The singer’s family issued a statement in which they said, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad,” as quoted by the BBC and RTE. Her family and friends are inconsolable and have asked for privacy during this extremely trying time.
As of now, no cause of death has been identified. 56 was O’Connor’s age.