Stephen Gately's distraught bandmates broke down as they paid tribute to the singer, describing him as a giant of a man and now the perfect angel.

Boyzone's Ronan Keating sobbed as he told Gately's funeral Mass in Dublin that the world had lost one of its greatest stars.

In an emotional eulogy that brought tears to the eyes of thousands of fans outside, Keating cried as he said the popstar had found perfect peace.

"We have lost our brother and I've lost my wing man," said Keating.

"He will live on in our songs and whenever us four are together his spirit is alive. For Stephen we'll carry on, but it will never be the same without him. A beautiful man who is now the perfect angel. Forever young and never forgotten."

Keating and the remaining bandmates Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy joined family, neighbours and celebrity friends for the emotional farewell in St Laurence O'Toole Church in Dublin's north inner city.

Gately's heartbroken parents Margaret and Martin, siblings Mark, Alan, Tony and Michelle and his partner Andrew Cowles hugged and supported each other as they left the chapel. A pair of rosary beads which Lynch wore into the church around his neck were placed on Gately's coffin as the tearful band members carried their friend out of the church.

Around 3,500 fans listened outside as Keating, Duffy and Graham remembered their friend.

Famous faces at the popstar's funeral included Boyzone creator Louis Walsh, Westlife, Brian McFadden and X Factor winner Shane Ward. Singers Sharon Corr, Jason Donovan and Brian Kennedy joined actor Chris Bisson and TV personalities Vanessa Feltz and Gillian McKeith.

Elton John, who is on tour, sent a large bouquet of yellow flowers laid outside the church. Messages of condolence were received from George Michael, David and Victoria Beckham, Simon Cowell, Take That, U2, Robbie Williams, Cheryl Cole, Sharon Osborne and Colin Farrell, whose brother Eamon and partner Steve Mannion attended.