Thousands of people lined the streets of Finglas in North Dublin this morning to pay their respects to Christy Dignam.
The Aslan frontman died earlier this week after a long illness.
The procession began around 9:30am at Cardiffsbridge Road, near Christy's family home where neighbours gathered to applaud the coffin.
It then passed St. Fergal's Boys National School, where his singing career began before proceeding into Farnham Drive outside Erins Isle GAA club, where a large screen was erected and where most people had converged to pay their respects.
Despite the onset of rain, the thousands who gathered clapped and cheered as the hearse made its way slowly down the road.
The cortege paused at Erin's Isle GAA Club and his widow Kathryn, daughter Kiera, son-in-law Darren and three grandchildren emerged from the car.
They shared warm embraces with some in the crowd before watching a 20-minute video tribute to Christy Dignam's musical talents.
The crowd cheered as RTE's Ryan Tubridy described Christy Dignam as special. He said: "He had a great love of Ireland, a great love of family, a great love of Finglas. He knew who he was and why he was here. The people of Ireland had taken Dignam to their hearts. We are going to miss him."
As the tribute came to an end, the crowd, many of them with tears in their eyes and visibly emotional, sang along to the Aslan hits This Is and Crazy World.
Among the floral tributes alongside his coffin was one from U2, which read: "There is no end to grief, that's how we know there is no end to love". It was signed by Bono, Adam, Larry and Edge.
After the public celebration of his life, Christy Dignam was taken to Glasnevin cemetery for a private family ceremony.
The eulogy was delivered by his daughter Kiera who acknowledged the long time the family had been preparing for this day.
"I started writing this on the 11th of March. In my head, I've been writing it for 10 years but we got used to my Da giving us false alarms and going against every rule in the history of medical science so I didn't think I was ever actually going to have to finish it.
"Although the last 10 years particularly the last year have been very hard we have been very lucky to have that time to make memories and have holidays and dinners and days that we can remember together and although it will be tough for a while to listen to his music or watch a video we are privileged to have them forever."
In later years when she became a mother, she told how her father would come home from gigs and stay up to do the night feeds for his grandchildren.
And she recounted the love and support he gave her and his family.
"He had a way of easing any situation, if I had a problem or needed advice he could always find a way or a small quote or piece of advice to make it better, he struggled to fix his own problems most of the time but never mine."
She also spoke of the musical moments they shared together
"The first time he heard me singing was the first time I heard him singing a song that wasn't his own. It was at a karaoke in Portugal when I was 13. I sang Unbreak My Heart and Against All Odds by Phil Collins and he sobbed, he cried every single time he listened to me sing up until the last time he listened a few weeks ago. I didn't think I was that bad but clearly by his trained ear I am! He sang Whiter Shade Of Pale and Desperado.
"The girl running the karaoke came over after and was saying my god you're amazing you should be a singer, he just said ah thank you. We said nothing!"
Christy Dignman knew this day was coming for some time and had discussed this day with his family and friends.
As was his request, his daughter sang the final song, How Great Thou Art as Christy Dignam left the stage for the last time.
Kiera confirmed her father's passing on a post on social media on Tuesday. She wrote; "On behalf of my family, it is with a broken heart that we convey the news of my father's passing, Christy Dignam.
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"Dad peacefully left us where he wanted to, at home today 4pm Tuesday, June 13th, 2023, after a courageously long-fought battle, surrounded by his family."
Aslan said: "We are beyond devastated to have lost not only our band member, but our friend, Christy, that we have so many, many years of sharing our lives with."
President Michael D Higgins led the tributes to Dignam.
He said Dignam and his Aslan bandmates "made an enormous contribution to the cultural life of our nation".
"People across Ireland and beyond will have heard with great sadness of the death of Christy Dignam," he added.
