Ireland: Thousands mourn Dolores O'Riordan - funeral to be broadcast

Dolores with Luciano Pavarotti at benefit for children of Bosnia 1995. They sang Ave Maria - Wiki

Thousands of Cranberries fans paid their last respects to Dolores O'Riordan as she lay in state at St Joseph's Church in Limerick yesterday. For four hours, mourners passed her open coffin in the church, while Cranberries songs were softly played. A bouquet of flowers from the band carried the lyrics from the band's hit song Linger, that read: "The song has ended, but the memories linger on."

The much-loved singer was found dead in her London hotel room last Monday. Police ruled the death as not suspicious. Results for the autopsy will be revealed in April.

Dolores' Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11.30am today in Saint Ailbe's Church, Ballybricken, Co Limerick. Local Limerick radio station Live 95FM will broadcast the service live, while a public address system will be in place for those attending outside of the Church. The Church's 200 seats have been strictly reserved for family, relatives and parishioners only.

Canon Liam McNamara, a family friend, will be chief celebrant of the Mass. Parish Priest Father James Walton, Ballybricken & Bohermore, Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, Archbishop of Cashel & Emly and Archbishop Emeritus Dermot Clifford will concelebrate the Mass, which will be followed by private family burial.

"Out of respect for the solemnity of the Mass, and to provide privacy and space to the family, the use of camera equipment by media within the Church, or its grounds, is forbidden before, during and after the Funeral Mass," the Catholic Communications Office has said in a statement.

The O'Riordan family told the Limerick Leader the outpouring of tributes, prayers and kind sentiments from across the world, and particularly from the people of Dolores' home county and city, has been "a great source of comfort" to them "We want to thank all the people of Limerick who have remembered Dolores this week."

Listen to Live 95FM here: www.live95fm.ie/home/