The family of the late Christy Dignam has told how the music icon’s death "leaves a void that will be impossible to fill" – as they announce Christy’s funeral cortege will stop at personal landmarks before his private funeral service.
Funeral details have been announced for the late Aslan frontman, who died on Tuesday at 4pm, after a 10-year battle with amyloidosis, a rare blood cancer. He had been in palliative care since December.
Posting a statement on RIP.ie, his devastated family described the 63-year-old as a "charismatic frontman" who "earned his place as an Irish rock legend" as they revealed Christy’s funeral will take place on Saturday.
READ MORE: Inside Christy Dignam's love story with wife Kathryn who made him feel like he 'won the Lotto' when they met
The statement reads: "Rock legend Christy Dignam died peacefully at home, as was his wish, on Tuesday the 13th of June on in the loving care of his family.
"The charismatic frontman of Aslan truly earned his place as an Irish rock legend, winning accolades and drawing him into the collective hearts of the nation, while remaining true to his Finglas roots.
"Christy’s songs and voice provided the backdrop to successive generations enraptured by his lyrics, his passion, and his stage presence."
The beloved father-of-one was described as "modest and down-to-earth" and will be remembered as a man who was a "generous supporter of countless charity events, often turning up at the bedsides of admirers who were ill.
"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.
"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."
Christy’s funeral will take place this Saturday and will begin with a "farewell gathering" on Farnham Drive in Finglas (opposite Erins Isle) followed by a private funeral service. His family also wish to let mourners know that the house will also be private.
For those who wish to pay their respects, his funeral details reveal Christy’s cortege will stop at key points in his life, his old school Colaiste Ide, St Fergal’s BNS and the playing field opposite Erin’s Isle to pause for a video tribute.
The funeral cortege will arrive at the junction of Tolka Valley Road and Cardiffsbridge Road at 9.45am and proceed (driving) along the following routes left onto Cardiffbridge Road, arriving at 9.50am to Pause at green area opposite Coláiste Íde.
The cortege will also continue onto Mellowes Road towards Finglas Garda Station, before turning right onto Finglaswood Road.
It will then turn left onto Cappagh Road pausing at St Fergal’s BNS, before turning right onto Patrick’s Well Place, left onto Wellmount Road, right onto Farnham Drive before arriving at playing field opposite Erin’s Isle to pause for a Video Tribute to be played.
At 10:15am, the cortege will depart Erin’s Isle.
A funeral service will take place privately afterwards. Family flowers only, donations in lieu of flowers to Saint Francis Hospice.
On Tuesday, Christy’s heartbroken daughter Kiera confirmed her father's death after a “courageously long-fought battle” with cancer.
In a statement on her Facebook page, she said: “On behalf of my family, it is with a broken heart that we convey the news of my father’s passing, Christy Dignam,” she wrote.
"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.”
“We ask that you honour our family's need for privacy during this immensely painful period.”
“Let us all hold him in our hearts and cherish the remarkable life of a talented singer, great story teller and amazing person.”
She added: “We thank you so much for your love and support shown to us.”
“Kathryn, Kiera, Darren, Cian, Ava, Jake and our extended family x.”
Aslan also shared a tribute to their beloved bandmate on Twitter.
President Michael D Higgins led the tributes on Tuesday, saying he had been personally affected by Christy’s death as he shared photos with the singer.
He wrote: “People across Ireland and beyond will have heard with great sadness of the death of Christy Dignam.
“For the last 40 years, Christy and his bandmates in Aslan have made an enormous contribution to the cultural life of our nation. In addition to their well-loved albums and hit singles such as ‘This Is’ and ‘Crazy World’, Aslan will be remembered in particular for their live shows and their remarkable connection with their audience.
"Christy was central to that connection, with his passionate performances ensuring a memorable night every time Aslan played – and there were many nights, with Christy and the band showing an endless dedication to touring throughout the country.
“As a result, people in nearly every town in Ireland will have their own memories of seeing them play and will feel like they had a personal connection with Christy. Indeed, I will personally remember a typically memorable performance from Christy in Áras an Uachtaráin in 2016.
“Over recent years, all of us have been struck by the dignity with which Christy lived with his illness and admired his dedication in continuing to both perform and record, including his 2021 solo album, despite the challenges which he faced.”
Mr Higgins added: “It is hard to believe that he has left us.
“May I express my deepest condolences to Christy’s wife Kathryn, to his daughter Kiera, to his bandmates in Aslan, and to his wide circle of family and friends.”
Actor Rory Cowan said he was devastated over the death of his “old pal”, saying his heart was “very heavy”.
“My heart is very heavy. My old pal Christy Dignam has died. God love him. We lost a fabulous Dubliner today. My deepest sympathies go out to Kiera and Kathryn and the rest of Christy’s family and his Aslan family.”
RTE DJ Dave Fanning reflected on his relationship with Christy in the 1980s on Claire Byrne's radio show on RTE Radio 1.
“I never hung around with him and I didn't know Aslan as much as maybe I should have, but the early days yeah.
"When they started in the early 80s or so, one of the things was to get a Fanning Session. It's public service broadcasting, we don't deserve praise for it. We should just do it and we did it.
“When Aslan did their session near the beginning, they were so pleased, so proud and ‘wow this is a wrung on the ladder that we've now reached, we can use this as a demo tape for record companies’. They went out and with whatever money they got, got wrecked that night in the pub... Whatever it was, probably for one round knowing what RTE pay, I had no idea what might've happened after that, if we had anything to do with it but I don't think we probably did.
“Then they got their deal and they were with the record company, they brought out an album and did well with their single "This Is". All of this happened."
He went on to say that Aslan "would have loved to have made it" outside of Ireland.
Claiming that Aslan “never made it outside of Ireland”, Dave said their gigs in places such as Australia “didn't mean a thing” and “they would have loved to make it”.
Countering Dave's point, Claire asked if “coming back is the important thing” when it comes to assessing the band's career.
Dave replied: “The shot he got this time was never going to be a huge reaction, that was one of the problems and not fair on the band...
“They released six albums, I wouldn't know any song on the last three albums. They just became the band who played loads of gigs in Ireland, Monday to Friday, and as Billy would always say ‘it's better than working’. Yet he's working very hard at the same time... They just should've done more but didn't.”
Ryan Tubridy paid tribute to the late singer, saying while his death was “inevitable”, it wasn’t easy receiving the news.
“While it was inevitable, it's never easy to hear about that, especially as somebody I think we all took under our wing as a friend of ours, as somebody we admired and somebody we loved,” he told his RTE Radio 1 listeners.
“He contributed so much to the country to the fabric of the culture of Ireland, and all those beautiful songs and all those great stories. God, I love them. And I love seeing them come through the door and I love talking to him," he continued.
"I'm not as sad today as I thought I'd be because I loved it. I took strength from his strength in that room talking to him."
“I don't think he was afraid of death. I think he wanted more time for sure, as he said himself.”
Finbar Furey said he “loved him dearly”.
“He’s got a lot of fans out there and I’d say everybody's missing Christy this morning. Everybody loved him,” he said.
Before the pandemic, the pair had started to make an album together and finished four songs before lockdown kicked in.
“I loved him very much. He loved the music. I have great respect for what he did and always will. He’ll be in my memory forever and my family’s memory too,” Furey said.
He added that his friend will be sadly missed and that he was missing him today.
“His memory will live on forever. Trust me," he added.
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