A tribute to the late singer Sinead O’Connor has been unveiled on a hillside near the seaside town in Ireland where her funeral will be held.
The huge white words saying “Eire ♡ Sinead” are above a World War Two navigational landmark saying “Eire” which was rediscovered in 2018 and close to Bray in County Wicklow. Eire is the Irish word for Ireland.
O’Connor, who was found unresponsive by police at her southeast London home on 26 July, lived on Strand Road in the Irish town for 15 years.
The installation was created by Dublin-based creative agency The Tenth Man and the letters measure 30ft in length.
Executive creative director Richard Seabrooke said: “So much has been said about Sinead since her recent passing, I’m not sure what is left to say. We just wanted to take the opportunity to mark the moment with a bold statement that symbolises what she meant to this little country of ours.”
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A statement issued on Sunday on behalf of O’Connor’s family encouraged people to line Bray’s seafront from 10.30am tomorrow for a “last goodbye” to the singer.
The funeral cortege is to travel along the seafront, starting at the Harbour Bar and continuing to the other end of Strand Road, before continuing on to a private burial.
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“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.”
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The unapologetic singer’s rise to stardom and personal struggles
Sinead O’Connor sent texts ‘laden with despair’ to Bob Geldof in weeks before her death
O’Connor’s 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 Dublin, Belfast and London, where members of the public paid tribute to her legacy as a musician and activist.
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.
