Mourners bid farewell to Gately

About 1,000 mourners today lined the streets where Stephen Gately was raised in an unforgettable send-off to the late Boyzone star.

The remaining bandmates joined close family and neighbourhood friends in St Laurence O’Toole Church in Dublin for an emotional farewell.

'X-factor' judge Louis Walsh, who founded the band in the mid-90s, paid his own personal tribute to Gately as mourners filed into the chapel before midday.

“It’s a difficult day but we have to celebrate his life,” Walsh said.

“It’s an incredible atmosphere in the church, all his best friends are there, his family are there, it’s what he would have wanted. He was just a great person.”

Walsh described Boyzone as Gately’s family.

The remaining bandmates, Ronan Keating, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy spent the night in the church holding a wake for the West End star they have called their brother.

The four also planned to sing at the service.

Walsh added: “Stephen was a great person, never offended anybody in his whole life, never gave me any problems.

“I think this is the best place in the world for him today, this is where he grew up.”

Members of Westlife, Elton John’s partner David Furnish and former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern attended the service, relayed on loudspeakers outside.

Parents Margaret and Martin, brothers Mark, Alan and Tony and sister Michelle and his partner Andrew Cowles supported each other during a short private prayer vigil at the chapel last night.

Hundreds of residents, carrying single roses prepared for their own special floral tribute to the pop star during his home-coming to his working-class roots.