MOURNERS gathered in Belfast yesterday to pay tribute to singer-songwriter Bap Kennedy at his funeral.
The funeral cortege left O'Kanes in Donegall Street yesterday afternoon ahead of a private service.
The musician died on Tuesday aged 54 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Tributes poured in from across the music world for the west Belfast native - a brother of singer Brian Kennedy - who first found fame as frontman of rock act Energy Orchard in the early 1990s.
Brian revealed in September that he is also battling cancer.
Energy Orchard toured with acts including Belfast blues king Van Morrison, and following the band’s split Bap continued to collaborate with major names including Mark Knopfler of Dire Straights and folk rocker Steve Earle.
"Bap was loved by both fans and musicians in equal measure," Van Morrison said.
Steve Earle said: "He was a great songwriter, a take-no-prisoners performer and one of the nicest guys I ever knew. I will miss him very much."
And former Energy Orchard bandmate Kevin Breslin said he believed Bap would join the long list of musical greats to have hailed from Ireland.
"I knew him from around the age of 17 and I will always cherish the memories of our times together as bandmates, and as friends. He was a flower full of nectar, and I think he will be recognised as one of Ireland’s greatest musicians when the history books are written."
In August, in an online blog, the musician said he was facing "the worst case scenario" after receiving the "very bad news".
"I want to use my time to fix the things I can and put as much love as I can into the world before the boatman rows me across the big river. I'm not afraid."
He is survived by his wife Brenda and stepchildren Christine and Kenneth.
