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Bono sings at father's funeral

Bono and his U2 bandmates acted as pallbearers

Bono and bandmate The Edge dedicated the song Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own to Bob Hewson, 75, who died earlier this week after a long cancer battle.

Mourners at the Old Balgriffin Cemetery in Co Dublin also included U2's Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton, Ronan Keating and Gerry Corr, father of the Irish singing group The Corrs.

Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson, was joined at the Church of the Assumption by his wife Ali and their four children.

Bono and his brother Norman led the mourners for the hour-long ceremony.

The pair were joined by The Edge and Mullen carrying the coffin from the church.

The funeral fell just 24 hours ahead of the band's first Irish gig for three years at Slane Castle.

Thanks

Groups of well-wishers and fans congregated outside the church and Bono and his family spent half an hour thanking them for their thoughts.

Mr Hewson died on Tuesday as U2 were preparing to go on stage at London's Earl's Court.

Bono refused to pull the gig and instead dedicated the song Kite to him.

Speaking to fans he said: "I want to thank my old man, my father, for giving me this voice.

"He was a fine tenor and always said if I had his voice who knows what might happen."

Mr Hewson's own singing talent was evident in the turn out of the Coolock Music Society to the funeral.

He had been a member of the group for many years and was affectionately called the "merry widow".