LAST UPDATE | 17 Jun 2023
THE FUNERAL AND public farewell of Christy Dignam took place today in Finglas, Co Dublin.
A crowd of mourning family, friends and fans followed the Aslan frontman’s hearse through Finglas, before gathering outside of Erins Isle GAA Club.
His fellow bandmates and hundreds from the community in Finglas and all over Dublin were seen paying their respects to the singer.
Dignam died on Tuesday evening in his home after a long-term illness of a rare blood disease, amyloidosis.
In 2013 he was diagnosed with the disease and blood cancer multiple myeloma. He underwent extensive treatment, including chemotherapy.
He had been receiving palliative care at home since December following six months of treatment at Beaumont Hospital.
Members of Dignam’s close family followed the hearse through the town, with friends and fans following and looking on.
The funeral cortege started on the Tolka Valley Road and travelled towards Finglas village before arriving at a playing field opposite Erin’s Isle GAA club and pausing for a video tribute.
Two friends from Malahide, who’ve been fans of Dignam’s since they were sixteen, told The Journal: “We’ve probably seen him 20 or 30 times over the last number of years.
“We came to pay tribute to him.”
One of the friends said they had seen Dignam play all around the country in various venues, clubs and bars, and their group of friends were “big fans” of the Irish singer.
“Vicar Street, the Olympia, Iveagh Gardens, the Point,” one friend listed. “We’re big fans.”
The funeral procession began at 9.45 am this morning and led the crowds who gathered through Finglas to the GAA club.
As the cortege drove on Cardiffsbridge Road, neighbours in rain jackets, jeans, Aslan T-shirts and some in pyjamas; drivers; dog-walkers; and passers-by took a minute to pay their respects – with some playing music from the Dublin band and flying Irish flags along the road.
Muiris O’Cearbhaill / Twitter
Muiris O’Cearbhaill / Twitter / Twitter
The hearse stopped for a moment at Coláiste Ída, a local school in Finglas, where a large group of people from the community had gathered to applaud the hearse as it drove by.
Dignam grew up in Finglas, on the northside of the capital. In 1982, he formed the rock band Aslan alongside Alan Downey, Joe Jewell and Billy McGuinness, as well as Tony McGuinness, the band’s former bassist.
Aslan became one of the most popular bands on the Irish music scene after they released their first album Feel No Shame in 1988.
The album – and in particular the track ‘This Is’ – showcased the band’s unique sound and Dignam’s powerful vocals.
Another fan, from Finglas, said she thought the event was “brilliant, but very sad”.
Fans were reminded of Dignam’s legacy when the procession reached the GAA club. As the hearse drove between the crowd fans and onlookers applauded and cheered the singer’s coffin, with many shedding tears.
Balloons from people outside the club were released into the sky as ‘This Is’ played on a large screen set up for the crowds. Much of the crowd sang each lyric of Dignam’s notable song.
Dignam’s family and close friends opened the back of the hearse and stood with the coffin as numerous songs from the singer played on in the background.
A video tribute was then played to the large crowd who gathered to pay their respects to the band’s frontman.
Ryan Tubridy gave a video tribute to the singer on the large screen. Tubridy paid tribute to Dignam’s love for singing.
Tubridy said he remembered all the times the singer joined him on The Late Late Show “with Finbarr Fury, or with Imeda May, or with Aslan [...] singing, doing what he does best”.
“But also, loving. And that’s what he was; loving. I think it’s fair to say having met him, only a couple of months ago in his house, he knew that.
“The people from around this beautiful country said ‘He’s one of ours’,” Tubridy said.
A cheer quickly erupted from the crowd, who began to applaud and whistle the tribute led by the radio host.
“Christy Dingam, Idol. Legend. Beloved,” Tubridy added.
The cheers and applause were quickly muted as a minute’s silence was called for Christy Dignam and quietness fell over the crowd of adoring fans outside the GAA club.
A minute of silence is paid to Christy Dignam at his public farewell in Finglas. @thejournal_ie #ChristyDignam #RIP pic.twitter.com/Slh0zpeRpT
— Muiris O’Cearbhaill (@muirisoc) June 17, 2023
The silence was broken as the large screen began to play film of the singer and Aslan singing and playing the song ‘Crazy World’.
As the song played and the mourners sang, Dignam’s family and friends walked towards the procession vehicles again and the hearse drove to the private funeral.
The crowd once again applauded the hearse as it drove between the large crowd to where Dignam’s service will take place.
His funeral notice on RIP.ie said: “Modest and down-to-earth, Christy was as comfortable and happy singing at small intimate gigs as he was to packed venues.
“A generous supporter of countless charity events, often turning up at the bedsides of admirers who were ill.
“Christy’s loss leaves a void that will be impossible to fill,” it reads.
The RIP.ie page reminds the public that the family’s home will be private “at all times”.
“He is survived by his beloved wife Kathryn, his darling daughter Kiera, grandchildren Cian, Ava and Jake, son-in-law Darren Moran, sisters and brothers Bernadette, Deirdre, James, Brian, Therese, Jackie and Eddie, extended family, fellow Aslan members, neighbours, friends and all who knew and loved him,” the page reads.
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