It is the final resting place of Sinead O’Connor after she was buried as a Muslim in a Catholic cemetery following her funeral where U2’s Bono was among the mourners.
After nearly 5,000 people lined the road to pay their respects to the late Irish singer, her family, Bob Geldof and an Islamic cleric were among the few guests as her body was lowered to the ground at Deansgrange Cemetery in Bray, Co Wicklow .
Traditionally, people in Muslim graves lie on their right side. by Sinead the head may also face the Qibla – the direction towards the holy mosque in Mecca – 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 ‘reversion rather than a conversion’ after finally turning his back on the Catholic Church after years of attacks that saw her tearing up a picture of the pope. on TV.
His final resting place was marked with flowers removed from the top of his coffin and those thrown on his hearse by well-wishers. A brass plaque on a wooden plinth read: ‘Sinead O’Connor. Born December 8, 1966. Died July 26, 2023.’
His grave at the cemetery near Dublin, opened in 1865, lies along a wall near the entrance in an area called ‘The Garden’ and is surrounded by Catholic graves.
Sinead O’Connor’s grave is pictured today in Deansgrange Cemetery in Bray, Co Wicklow
Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, Islamic scholar and chief imam of the Islamic Center of Ireland, who met the star in 2018, is pictured next to the grave in Deansgrange cemetery yesterday
A simple brass plaque on a wooden plinth at Deansgrange Cemetery in Bray reads: ‘Sinead O’Connor. Born December 8, 1966. Died July 26, 2023’
Flowers at the grave of Sinead O’Connor in ‘The Garden’ section of Deansgrange Cemetery today
Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, an Islamic scholar and chief imam of the Islamic Center 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”.
On Twitter, Dr Umar Al-Qadri posted a picture of himself at his grave and a message from the Irish Muslim Council at the scene, which read: “The Muslim world mourns the loss of Ireland’s daughter, Sister Sinéad O’Connor (Shuhada) May she rest in peace.’
Pale pinks adorned his grave, accompanied by blue hydrangeas that had surrounded his coffin as it passed through the coastal town of Bray yesterday.
Hundreds of locals and fans of the singer gathered outside her former home, Montebello, where she had lived for 15 years, after her family asked people to stand along Strand Road for “a last goodbye “.
The singer’s former home, sold in 2021 and now empty, has been turned into a makeshift sanctuary since her death in London two weeks ago.
The wall outside the property was covered with flowers, photos and candles, along with handwritten notes to the singer thanking her for her voice, music and bravery.
At a private funeral service held yesterday – attended by Irish President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar – Dr Umar Al-Qadri delivered the eulogy which paid tribute to the ‘otherworldly voice’ of O’Connor and recommended it be sent as a ‘symphony of unity’ that ‘transcended boundaries’.
After the service, the hearse carrying his coffin drove through a crowd of mourners and past his former home – to the sound of Bob Marley playing from a Volkswagen camper van decorated with Pride and Rastafari flags.
The “The Garden” section of Deansgrange Cemetery is where Sinead O’Connor was buried
Flowers at the grave of Sinead O’Connor in ‘The Garden’ section of Deansgrange Cemetery today
Deansgrange Cemetery is Sinead O’Connor’s final resting place after his burial
Grammy Award winner Sinead O’Connor died on July 26 in London at the age of 56.
People followed the motorcade down the road, some dancing, some crying, some touching the window at the back of the hearse which bore a picture of Sinead, before the motorcade drove off to the private burial yesterday.
Dr Umar Al-Qadri said O’Connor had a “moving and private” funeral with Islamic prayers. He added that she “never strayed 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 emotional ceremony and I think it really reflected Sinead’s beautiful personality.”
“It was very spiritual and it reflected his Irish identity as well as his Muslim identity. So I was with the members of the Muslim community and we performed the Janazah prayer, which is the Islamic funeral prayer, on Sinead.
Thousands of people took to 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’ to Bray yesterday
Sinead O’Connor’s coffin lies outside his former home on the waterfront, Montebello
A hearse carrying the coffin of the late Irish singer Sinead O’Connor passed through Bray yesterday
Dr. Umar Al-Qadri helped convert O’Connor – who changed his name to Shuhada’ Davitt, later Shuhada’ Sadaqat – to Islam.
He added: ‘She was an incredible human being who was not only a great musician, an artist, but who would reach the hearts of millions of people because of her voice but also because of her incredible content.
‘Everything she said had deep meaning. She had always had a strong faith and belief in God and that was what motivated her to study theology.
“She studied different faiths, religions and basically when she studied Islam it was for her like ‘That was the religion I was always looking for. It was exactly the faith I was always looking for. I have always been a Muslim, but I never realized it”.
Bono and Edge leaving a funeral home in Bray after a service for Sinead yesterday. They were also seen with U2 bassist Adam Clayton. It is believed that Bono sang in 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 slowly passed through Bray in Co Wicklow yesterday
Fans sang Sinead O’Connor’s greatest hits yesterday, which were also played through loudspeakers
The Islamic scholar also revealed O’Connor’s eulogy online saying he expressed his “sincere gratitude” to his family and added he was “humbled by the privilege” of providing his service.
He wrote: “Just as Sinead O’Connor brought diverse souls together through his art, you orchestrated a symphony of unity on his final journey.
“Your noble gesture has transcended borders 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 bear witness to the enduring power of the collective spirit of humanity, as we bid farewell to a remarkable soul who has touched us all.”
