Together till the end ... Boyzone stars carry Stephen Gately's coffin from church
BRAVE BOYZONE stars paid a musical tribute to their former bandmate and "little brother" STEPHEN GATELY at his funeral.
The performance inside the St Laurence O'Toole Church in Dublin was relayed on loud speakers to over 3,500 mourners who had lined the streets outside.
The four remaining members - RONAN KEATING, KEITH DUFFY, MIKEY GRAHAM and SHANE LYNCH - sang In This Life, a song written by Keating.
They performed one more song, Happiness, which followed an emotional eulogy containing humour as well as tearful moments.
DUFFY described Gately as the band's "little brother" whom they would always protect.
BRAVE BOYZONE stars paid a musical tribute to their former bandmate and "little brother" STEPHEN GATELY at his funeral.
The performance inside the St Laurence O'Toole Church in Dublin was relayed on loud speakers to over 3,500 mourners who had lined the streets outside.
The four remaining members - RONAN KEATING, KEITH DUFFY, MIKEY GRAHAM and SHANE LYNCH - sang In This Life, a song written by Keating.
They performed one more song, Happiness, which followed an emotional eulogy containing humour as well as tearful moments.
DUFFY described Gately as the band's "little brother" whom they would always protect.
Emotional ... Stars with coffin.
He told his former bandmate's civil partner ANDREW COWLES he now has "four new brothers" and the star's parents MARTIN and MARGARET have "four new sons", adding they should expect an expensive Christmas now they've got "eight new grandchildren".
Graham praised Gately, whom they called Steo, for bringing "colour to the band" and the band "felt black and white without him". He also recalled Gately's love of his partner and family.
"Stephen's love for Andrew was true and only last week he told me how lucky he felt to have him by his side," he said.
"But Steo always kept in touch with his family at home in Dublin, making frequent trips home to see his Mam and Dad, sister Michelle and her family and his brothers TONY, MARK and ALAN and their families."
Keating, who broke down towards the end of his tribute, recalled the star's love of performing and how much he was looking forward to working on new Boyzone material.
He said the band would continue and his spirit would live on in the songs, before adding: "It will never be the same without him".
Ronan said: "The world has lost one of its brightest stars. We have lost a brother and I have lost my wing man."
He added: "Forever young and never forgotten. A friend, a brother, a son, a husband and a hero.
"We are going to miss you brother, we love you and we always will. We know you have found peace, perfect peace."
He also revealed Gatley's loved ones would "by hook or by crook" finish the book that he had nearly completed about his life.
His parents and brothers were seen hugging each other throughout the ceremony which was also attended by some of Gately's famous friends, including WESTLIFE, BRIAN MCFADDEN, DAVID FURNISH and JASON DONOVAN.
Tough day ... Andrew Cowles
LOUIS WALSH, the band's manager, felt unable to speak at the service because the loss was still too raw, but penned a touching tribute instead.
He wrote: "Stephen was one of life's positive people with a lovely nature and he was someone who always had a smile on his face.
"He loved to laugh and joke and was always the life and soul of the party and would give everyone he met his time.
"He would always thank me for the success he'd gained through Boyzone but on reflection I should be the one to have thanked him as he brought so much into my life, and the career I've loved in pop music is largely down to Stephen and the rest of Boyzone."
Some of Gately's old friends also praised him for never forgetting his roots.Childhood pal PADDY FEELY described the Boyzone star as a gentleman.
"He was an inspiration to the country, to what young people can achieve.
"People like Stephen, they had nothing but they achieved an awful lot.
"Did anybody ever think that a young guy from the inner-city would reach headlines on the world's TV and radio?
"But he never forgot where he came from."
Fans burst into another round of applause when the coffin left the church, throwing white roses onto the road as the hearse passed.
His body was being taken to Glasnevin Crematorium for a private service and guests will tonight head to a Dublin hotel for the star's wake.
LOUIS WALSH, the band's manager, felt unable to speak at the service because the loss was still too raw, but penned a touching tribute instead.
He wrote: "Stephen was one of life's positive people with a lovely nature and he was someone who always had a smile on his face.
"He loved to laugh and joke and was always the life and soul of the party and would give everyone he met his time.
"He would always thank me for the success he'd gained through Boyzone but on reflection I should be the one to have thanked him as he brought so much into my life, and the career I've loved in pop music is largely down to Stephen and the rest of Boyzone."
Some of Gately's old friends also praised him for never forgetting his roots.Childhood pal PADDY FEELY described the Boyzone star as a gentleman.
"He was an inspiration to the country, to what young people can achieve.
"People like Stephen, they had nothing but they achieved an awful lot.
"Did anybody ever think that a young guy from the inner-city would reach headlines on the world's TV and radio?
"But he never forgot where he came from."
Fans burst into another round of applause when the coffin left the church, throwing white roses onto the road as the hearse passed.
His body was being taken to Glasnevin Crematorium for a private service and guests will tonight head to a Dublin hotel for the star's wake.
.....................................................................................................
No comments:
Post a Comment