Forever in our hearts..

Supporters of singer line seafront for final journey

- SANDRA MALLON

DISTRAUGHT fans of Sinead O'Connor came from all over Ireland and beyond to say one final farewell to her yesterday.

Tearful supporters who had arrived in Bray to watch her funeral cortege snake along the seafront of the Wicklow town said they still found it hard to speak about her in the past tense.

Throughout the morning, devotees stood sharing stories and reminiscing about how much the performer, 56, influenced and changed their lives.

Aoife Martin, originally from Cork but living in Dublin, said she was devastated when she heard the news of her death. She said: "I was in New York for a few weeks and so heard it there and I had no one to, you know, talk to about it."

But Ms Martin said she was "shocked" the singer had died but was "not surprised".

She added: "But it's an absolutely shock that she is gone."

Frenchwoman Delphine Velut said: "I was a big fan.

"I would've seen her perform at All Together Now.

"Actually, I seen her when I was doing the Bray walk with my children and she was sitting there outside her house.

"I saw her a few times in town in Whelans and she was always so polite." Ms Velut has often shaved her head in the past and decided to do it once more last Friday to pay tribute.

Julia Gauuanwske and daughter Sara arrived on the Bray promenade early yesterday morning.

FAMOUS