People encouraged to line Bray seafront ahead of Sinead O’Connor’s funeral
The funeral of the late singer Sinead O’Connor is to be held on Tuesday, with people being invited to line a Co Wicklow seafront where she used to live as a “last goodbye”.
The cortege is to travel along the seafront in Bray, starting at the Harbour Bar and continuing to the other end of the Strand Road, before continuing on to a private burial.
It will pass by her former home on the Strand Road, Montebello, where she lived for 15 years and where people have been leaving flowers since her death.
Ahead of the funeral a giant installation honouring the late musician has been unveiled on Bray Head.
"ÉIRE SINÉAD" has been spelled out in 9metre tall letters. The installation was created by Dublin-based creative agency The Tenth Man with signwriting and mural specialists, Mack Signs.
It is located directly above the recently rediscovered World War Two “ÉIRE’ navigational landmark and close to Sinéad’s former seafront home at Strand Road, Bray.
The Irish Grammy-winning singer, aged 56, was found unresponsive by police at her south-east London home on July 26.
The news of her death sparked a host of tributes from fans and famous artists from across the world, including Russell Crowe, Annie Lennox, Cyndi Lauper and Bob Geldof.
Several gatherings have also been held in the days since O’Connor’s death in Dublin, Belfast and London, where members of the public paid tribute to her legacy as a musician and activist.
A statement issued on Sunday on behalf of O’Connor’s family encouraged people to line Bray’s seafront from 10.30am for a “last goodbye” to the singer.
“Sinead loved living in Bray and the people in it,” a 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.
“The Gardai have asked that people gather, if they would like to say a last goodbye to the singer, from 10.30am on Tuesday along the Bray seafront.”
O’Connor, who was propelled to international stardom in 1990 with her version of the hit Nothing Compares 2 U, was also known for taking fierce stances on social and political issues such as the child abuse scandal in the Catholic Church.
Following her death, her music management company, 67 Management, revealed she had been finishing a new album, reviewing tour dates for next year and was also considering “opportunities” around a movie of her book before her death.
Erika Doyle, a councillor based in Bray and a lifelong fan of O’Connor, said there was a sense of gratitude in the coastal town that they were being given the chance to say one last goodbye.
“I was delighted to see the family reference the relationship Sinead had with Bray,” she said.
Ms Doyle said that people were “very grateful” to be part of her final journey, and it would give locals the chance to say goodbye and to express their grief.
“There’s been lots of stories shared (by Bray locals) where people would have met her or formed friendships with her or experienced her kindness,” she said, adding that she had coffee with her at the seafront.
“I think that was important to her – she was treated as Sinead who lived near the beach, I think that was important to her at an important time for her. To be treated as Sinead, Sinead the mum, Sinead the neighbour.
“A lot of people in Bray saw (her talent) but it came as respect rather than fandom,” she said.
“We are probably still understanding what she contributed because it was her voice but it was a lot more than that too.”
Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.