Sinead O’Connor’s final resting place: Music icon’s grave is adorned with flowers in Catholic cemetery as she receives Muslim burial after thousands of fans and musicians including Bono and Bob Geldof paid tribute at her funeral
- Sinead O’Connor has been buried at Deansgrange Cemetery in Bray, Co Wicklow
- O’Connor was lying on right side and her head facing Qibla as is Islamic custom
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 mourners.
After nearly 5,000 people had lined the route to pay their respects to the late Irish singer, her family, Bob Geldof and an Islamic cleric were among the few invited as her body was lowered to the ground at Deansgrange Cemetery in Bray, Co Wicklow.
O’Connor was sent to her final resting place lying on her right side and her head facing Qibla as is Islamic custom after she chose Islam over Catholicism.
The star, who died on July 26 aged 56, described becoming a Muslim as a ‘re-version rather than conversion’ after she finally turned her back on the Catholic church following years of attacking it which saw her rip up a picture of the Pope on TV.
Her final resting place was marked with blooms removed from the top of her casket and those thrown onto her hearse by well-wishers. A brass plaque on a wooden plinth read: ‘Sinead O’Connor. Born 8th December 1966. Died 26th July 2023.’
Her grave at the cemetery near Dublin, opened in 1865, lies 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 at Deansgrange Cemetery in Bray, Co Wicklow
Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, an Islamic scholar and Chief Imam at the Islamic Centre of Ireland, who met the star in 2018, is pictured next to the grave yesterday at Deansgrange Cemetery
A simple brass plaque on a wooden plinth at Deansgrange Cemetery in Bray reads: ‘Sinead O’Connor. Born 8th December 1966. Died 26th July 2023’
Flowers at Sinead O’Connor’s grave in ‘The Garden’ section of Deansgrange Cemetery today
Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, an Islamic scholar and Chief Imam at the Islamic Centre of Ireland, who met the star in 2018, officiated at the ceremony and offered prayers. The imam was a friend of the singer and described himself as her ‘spiritual guide’.
READ MORE Farewell to the ‘daughter of Ireland’ with a ‘poet’s heart’: Eulogy to Sinead O’Connor pays tribute to ‘beloved’ music icon who whose ‘voice moved a generation’ – as simple plaque marks her resting place after Muslim burial service
On Twitter, Dr Umar Al-Qadri posted a photograph of himself at her grave and a message from the Irish Muslim Council at the scene, which said: ‘The Muslim World mourns the loss of the Daughter of Ireland 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 house, Montebello, where she had lived for 15 years, after her family asked that people stand along the Strand Road for ‘a last goodbye’.
The singer’s former home, sold in 2021 and now lying empty, was turned into a make-shift shrine since her death in London two weeks ago.
The wall outside the property has been covered with flowers, photos and candles, as well as handwritten notes addressed to the singer to thank her for her voice, her music and her bravery.
At a private funeral service held yesterday – attended by the Irish President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar – Dr Umar Al-Qadri delivered the eulogy that paid tribute to O’Connor’s ‘otherworldly voice’ and commended the send-off to her as a ‘symphony of unity’ that ‘transcended boundaries’.
After the service, the hearse carrying her coffin travelled through throngs of mourners and past her former home – to the sound of Bob Marley being played from a Volkswagen camper van decorated with the Pride and Rastafarian flags.
‘The Garden’ section of Deansgrange Cemetery is where Sinead O’Connor has been buried
Flowers at Sinead O’Connor’s grave in ‘The Garden’ section 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 died on July 26 in London at the age of 56
People followed the procession down the road, some dancing, some weeping, some touching the window at the back of the hearse which carried a photo of Sinead, before the cortege travelled on to the private burial yesterday.
Dr Umar Al-Qadri said O’Connor had a ‘moving and private’ funeral featuring Islamic prayers. He added that she ‘never moved away from God’ unlike others who have ‘difficulties and trials’ in their lives.
He told the PA news agency: ‘The funeral was obviously private (for) the family and it was a very moving ceremony and I think it really reflected the beautiful personality of Sinead.
‘It was very spiritual and it reflected her Irish identity as well as her Muslim identity. So I was with the members of the Muslim community and we performed the Janazah prayer, which is 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 for a ‘last goodbye’ in Bray yesterday
Sinead O’Connor’s coffin stands outside her former home on the seafront, Montebello
A hearse carrying the coffin of late Irish singer Sinead O’Connor passes by 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 just a great musician, artist, but one that would reach hearts of millions of people because of her voice but also because of the amazing content.
‘Whatever she said, had a deep meaning. She had always had strong faith and conviction in God and that is what motivated her to study theology.
‘She studied different faiths, religions and essentially, when she studied Islam it was for her like ‘This was the religion I was always looking for. This was exactly the faith I was always looking for. I was always a Muslim, but I never realised’.’
Bono and the Edge leaving a funeral home in Bray after a service for Sinead yesterday. They were also seen with Adam Clayton, U2’s bassist. Bono is believed to have sung at the service
Bob Geldof followed Sinead O’Connor’s coffin in a taxi to the private burial in Bray yesterday
The extraordinary scenes as the hearse drove slowly through Bray in Co Wicklow yesterday
Fans sang Sinead O’Connor’s biggest hits yesterday, which were also played from speakers
The Islamic scholar also revealed O’Connor’s eulogy online saying he gave his ‘heartfelt gratitude’ to her family and added that he was ‘humbled by the privilege’ of delivering her service.
He wrote: ‘Just as Sinead O’Connor brought diverse souls together through her art, so have you orchestrated a symphony of unity during her final journey.
‘Your noble gesture has transcended boundaries and connected strangers, echoing the very essence of Sinead’s legacy.
‘In this shared moment of remembrance and prayer, we find ourselves united in a tapestry of love, compassion and reverence.
‘May this ceremony be a testament to the enduring power of humanity’s collective spirit, as we bid farewell to a remarkable soul who touched us all.’
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