Thousands gather at funeral of Irish musician Sinead O'Connor

The 56-year-old Dublin-born singer died on 26 July. She was well known for her activism including boycotting Israel to stand up for Palestinian rights

People attend the funeral of 56-year-old Irish Musician Sinead O’Connor, in Bray, North Wicklow, Ireland on August 08, 2023 [Mostafa Darwish/Anadolu Agency]

An Islamic funeral was held in Ireland today for singer Sinead O’Connor who died last month in London.

Thousands, including Irish singers Bono and Bob Geldof, took part in the ceremony as her cortege passed through her former hometown of Bray, 20 kilometres south of the nation’s capital, Dublin.

Thousands lined the streets to bid her farewell as her coffin was driven to her final resting point. The hearst stopped outside her former home to allow mourners to pay their respects.

Umar Al-Qadri, the Islamic scholar and chief imam at the Islamic Centre of Ireland, led the service.

“Gifted with a voice that moved a generation of young people, she could reduce listeners to tears by her otherworldly resonance,” he said.

O’Connor converted to Islam in 2018 and changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat but continued to perform under Sinead O’Connor.

Irish President Michael Higgins, wife Sabina, and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar also attended the service.

“The outpouring of grief and appreciation of the life and work of Sinead O’Connor demonstrates the profound impact which she had on the Irish people,” Higgins said in a statement. “The unique contribution of Sinead involved the experience of a great vulnerability combined with a superb, exceptional level of creativity that she chose to deliver through her voice, her music and her songs.”

O’Connor, who released ten studio albums, including the 1990 hit single Nothing Compares 2 U, died on 26 July, 18 months after the death of her 17-year-old son Shane. She was 56.

The singer died at her home, although the cause of death has not yet been made public. Police said it was not suspicious.”Sad to hear of the passing of sister Shuhada Sadaqat, also known as Sinead O’Connor. She was a tender soul, may God, Most Merciful, grant her everlasting peace. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon (We come from Allah and to Allah is our eventual return),” British singer Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, said following O’Connor’s death.

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