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Hundreds of fans say goodbye to Sinéad O'Connor: »Beloved daughter of Ireland«
Photo: CLODAGH KILCOYNE / REUTERS
Almost two weeks after the death of Sinéad O'Connor, a number of people in her Irish home town of Bray have said goodbye to the singer. A private funeral ceremony was attended by Irish pop stars Bono, frontman of the band U2, and Bob Geldof, as well as Irish President Michael D. Higgins and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. O'Connor died in London on July 26 at the age of 56. The cause of death is not yet known.
Numerous mourners lined the coastal promenade and paid tribute to the deceased as the "beloved daughter of Ireland". When the hearse stopped just outside the singer's house, fans applauded and threw flowers at the vehicle. They then joined the funeral procession.
Mourners laid flowers, messages and Irish flags in front of the house. On the nearby Bray Head hill, an installation commemorated O'Connor: "Eire (Ireland) loves Sinéad," it said in large letters and a heart. Again and again, people sang the singer's most famous song, »Nothing Compares 2 U« – in consultation, all Irish radio stations played the song at the same time.
"The expression of sorrow and appreciation for the life and work of Sinéad O'Connor shows the profound impact she has had on the Irish people," said President Higgins. »Sinéad's unique contribution included the experience of a great vulnerability, coupled with a magnificent, extraordinary level of creativity that she expressed through her voice, her music and her songs.«
"We will never see a woman like Sinéad in Ireland again," Veronica Kelly, who had traveled from the town of Shannon at night, told reporters. "Sinéad has given a voice to those without a voice."
SAK/DPA