Thousands of mourners are expected to line the streets on Saturday to bid a final farewell to Christy Dignam as he is laid to rest.
Fans have been urged to turn up early to pay their respects as Christy’s funeral cortege passes by – with some big names from the entertainment world expected to attend the strictly private funeral service.
Finbar Furey, Bono, Imelda May and Christy’s Aslan bandmates are some of the well-known faces expected to attend the funeral of the Northside Dublin singing legend – alongside his beloved wife, Kathryn, and daughter, Kiera.
READ MORE: Stunning Christy Dignam mural pops up in Dublin after sad death from cancer
Christy passed away at home on Tuesday, aged 63, under his family’s loving care.
Kiera Dignam has arranged for Christy’s funeral cortege to take a circular route through Finglas in the north of the city where the star grew up.
The singer will be cremated at Glasnevin after the funeral.
One musician performing at the funeral is Mayo man, Eamonn Walsh, who has performed with Keira – a talented musician in her own right.
Eamonn said yesterday that it was “a huge honour“ to be invited to play the Uilleann pipes for Christy.
The Ballina musician told Mid West Radio that he first met Christy at his Aslan band mate, Rodney O’ Brien’s wedding 10 years ago at Luttrellstown Castle, and was sorry to hear of the singer’s passing this week.
Eamonn said: “When I first heard the news I was so sad, and so was the whole country.
“He was so down to earth.
“I always remember him saying at the wedding reception, ‘I love the Uilleann pipes’.”
In his last radio interview with RTE’s Ryan Tubridy, Christy said he felt he was on “a conveyor belt up to heaven.”
Christy revealed that although he wasn’t particularly religious, he believed that “we are all spiritual beings in one sense or another”.
He added that a Sioux Indian friend believed that “each life was a lesson to be learned.”
He said his friend believed that “the more lessons that you learned, the nearer you got to Nirvana, until you became part of God.
Christy added: “I liked that kind of philosophy.”
In the same interview Christy spoke about his admiration for his parents and how his father, Christy Snr, had supported 8 kids on an upholsterer’s wage.
“We had nothing,” he said.
“We had absolutely nothing as kids.”
Musician Eoin Glackin who toured with Aslan, paid tribute to Christy on Facebook.
He wrote: “When I think of the times I was lucky enough to spend on the road with Aslan, I just remember laughing, all the time.
“He was so much fun. An incredible soul.
“The relationship between Aslan, Christy and their audience was a rare thing.”
Clannad’s Moya Brennan wrote on social media that she was “so sad” to learn of Christy’s passing.
She posted on Instagram: ““Go in peace on the next part of your journey, leaving so much love behind you.
She added that it was “special to have met you.”
Christy’s old pal Finbarr Furey wrote on Facebook that he was “a wonderful man”.
He wrote that the much-loved singer was: “The most positive human being I ever met in my life – a dynamite human being.
“Always had a smile on his face.
“Everybody loved Christy Dignam.”
Christy’s cortege is set to arrive on Saturday morning at the junction of Tolka Valley Road and Cardiffsbridge Road at 9.45am before turning onto Cardiffsbridge Road.
It will then arrive at 9.50am to pause at the green area opposite Colaiste Íde.
It will continue on to Mellowes Road towards Finglas Garda station and take a right turn onto Finglaswood Road.
The cortege will then proceed onto Cappagh Road pausing at St Fergal’s BNS. It will then turn right onto Patrick’s Well Place, left onto Wellmount Road and onto Farnham Drive.
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