Several thousand mourners lined the boyhood streets for Stephen Gately, of Boyzone, to watch his funeral pass by. The thirty-three year old singer died of natural causes according to the coroners report.
The four remaining members of the band sang and spoke at the service which fans listened to through speakers.
Ronan Keating, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy spent the night at the church with the West End star who they call their brother.
The four remaining members of the band sang and spoke at the service which fans listened to through speakers.
Ronan Keating, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy spent the night at the church with the West End star who they call their brother.
Members of Westlife, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John's partner David Furnish and former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern attended the service.Mr Gately's grief-stricken bandmates last night carried his coffin into the church near the family home in the north inner city.
Sir Elton, who is on tour, sent a bouquet of yellow flowers, which was placed near the entrance of the church. Singers George Michael and Cheryl Cole plus members of Take That were among others to send condolences.
At the end of the service, the four remaining Boyzone members helped carry the coffin out of the church. Each also bore a tattoo with the dates "76 09" to honour Gately. They spent Friday night holding a wake at the church in the working-class neighbourhood where Gately grew up.
His parents, Margaret and Martin, brothers Mark, Alan and Tony, sister Michelle and his civil partner Andrew Cowles had also visited the church for a private prayer vigil.
A Daily Mail reporter wrote a nasty, homophobic article about his death. I encourage everyone to join in the growing calls to have this homophobe fired and this paper sensored for the filth it printed.
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I was extremely sorry to hear about Gately. I've never been a big fan of Boyzone, but I think he did enormous collective good by "coming out" like he did. He was almost symbolic of the new Ireland.
ReplyDeleteThis news made me so very sad--and I immediately thought of you, Butch, strange as that may seem.
ReplyDeleteFrom all reports, it was a perfectly lovely funeral, and Ronan's eulogy was wonderfully done. I do hope Stephen has found Perfect Peace--and I wish strength and peace of mind for Andrew and the Boyzone fellows.
What happened to him makes me feel uncomfortable. It shows how easily one can be gone all of a sudden.
ReplyDeleteIt is as they say - 'to die you just need to be alive'.
We really need to leave our loved ones with kind and loving words ,all the time. You never know if that one time is going to be the last time.
May he Rest In Peace and may his family, friends and fans be able to cope with it.
firstly thank you for your tribute to Stephen may he rest in peace. i watched the coverage on the tv and it was really sad. i was so impressed how the priest spoke of his partner in such an inclusive way. with regard to the bile that woman wrote what will she feel if she has children and one or them all grown up to be gay how will she deal with that. for all us gay people it is sickening that people like her and the editors in the british daiy mail allow this article to be printed. it is a reminder for us all that there is still a lot of people who think to be gay is not normal the fight for equality and respect is still to be won.
ReplyDeleteSo sad. He was a tremendous talent and will be missed. May his loved ones find some peace when they think of the memories he has left them with.
ReplyDeleteWow, so young to die. May he rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteI stood on the street listening to the service. It was very well done, not over the top. Everyone was moved and touched by the words that were spoken. It was a nice way to say goodbye.
ReplyDeleteJust realized the song I fell in love with from your blog called "Better" is sung by him and his band. What a beautiful song he has left us from his short time on this Earth.
ReplyDeleteThe lad carrying the coffin with tears running down his face just made me cry like a baby. How sad to say goodbye to the ones we love.
ReplyDeleteThe reason we die is so that we know how precious the time is we have with each other. Let his passing be another reminder to say how much you love someone. Don't let another day go by without doing it, you never know who will leave your life today.
ReplyDeleteye had ta play Danny Boy didn't ye? Have me crying like a baby.
ReplyDelete