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08th Aug 2023

Thousands gather on Bray seafront as Sinéad O’Connor’s funeral cortege passes through

Fiona Frawley

Thousands of fans have gathered on Bray seafront to say their final goodbyes to the iconic singer and activist.

Those who loved and admired Sinéad O’Connor have had the chance to say one last goodbye today in the seaside town of Bray, where the singer had lived for 15 years.

Large crowds stood to pay their respects, singing along with her iconic songs ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ and ‘Mandinka’ as they played over loudspeakers.

Since her death on July 26, people have been leaving flowers and paying their respects at the house, which the singer sold in 2021 and is now uninhabited.

Crowds gather outside Sinéad O'Connor's former home in Bray
Crowds gather outside Sinéad O’Connor’s former home in Bray (Image via Rolling News)

Survivors of mother and baby homes, Magdalenes and former foster children also gathered to pay their respects to O’Connor who fought continuously for their voices to be heard.

Sinéad’s funeral cortége will pass through Bray seafront from which a private funeral service will take place.

Flowers are left outside Sinead O’Connor’s former home in Bray on the morning of her funeral. (Image via Rolling News)

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina are due to attend the funeral.

“The outpouring of grief and appreciation of the life and work of Sinéad O’Connor demonstrates the profound impact which she had on the Irish people,” President Higgins said.

The singer’s family released a statement on Sunday encouraging fans to turn out on the seafront to pay their respects.

“Sinead loved living in Bray and the people in it,” the statement said.

“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.”

You can watch the funeral procession live below.

Header image via Getty

This article originally appeared on joe.ie

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