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IT’S ODD TO be asked to write about Dolores O’Riordan in memoriam. She was, by far, the most famous woman to ever come out of Limerick.
And she was famous at a time when fame actually meant something and not bestowed on someone who blogs about eye shadow.
Back when the Cranberries formed in 1989/90, Dolores was a reluctant front woman.
Seamie Flynn, who ran the Theatre Royal in Limerick in the 90s recalls that she sang with her back to the audience for their first few gigs. Fame never seemed to sit easy with her and her relationship with it was uneasy. The tabloids loved her but the feeling was never mutual.
The male members of the Cranberries all remained and were familiar faces around Limerick. Dolores might have come home to see her family from time to time but I can’t ever recall seeing her in any pub during the heyday. Oddly, I have seen her in town several times in the past year simply walking down the street alone.
The Cranberries kicked off what would become Limerick’s cultural renaissance. Right after they hit Number One in the United States, we had the steamroller that was Bill Whelan’s Riverdance.
That was followed by Angela’s Ashes, D’Unbelievables and Munster Rugby.
All of a sudden we were “Fab” city.
Tourists would travel to Limerick to see where the Cranberries came from. When I was the MC at the Limerick City of Culture concert in 2013 at which Dolores headlined I met two girls who had come from South America just to see her sing three songs in her hometown.
Backstage, Dolores reminded me that the last time she had performed a solo gig in Limerick was in Laurel Hill School in 1988.
The Cranberries weren’t just a successful band, they were the second most successful band to ever come out of this country. Oddly, I think we in Ireland in the 1990s underestimated the enormity of their popularity as somehow they never seemed as popular on their home turf.
To put the numbers into perspective, the Cranberries No Need to Argue album ranks at number 99 on the list of the most successful albums ever.
There isn’t a single album released by the Rolling Stones ahead of them. Ed Sheeran’s world-conquering most recent album which has been parked at the top of the charts for a year has only sold 11 million albums.
The Cranberries never played the Aviva, never played Croke Park and only played the Point twice. In fact, the largest shows (aside from festivals) that the Cranberries played here were in the GAA stadium in Killarney and at Dublin Castle. In 1995 when they were selling albums as fast as they could be manufactured, the Cranberries biggest show at home was in the Green Glens in Millstreet.
Prophets in their own land and all that.
No doubt there will be calls for statues and memorial concerts. Her life and lifestyle will be analysed and picked apart.
The tabloids will have one more day out. Today, we remember that voice. The voice that sold 40 million albums. The voice that sang to the Pope. The voice that played Madison Square Gardens many times over.
To paraphrase their debut album, everybody else didn’t do it. She did.
Will Leahy is a Limerick- based presenter for RTE.
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Beautiful article
@Anthony Keenan: I totally agree. She was a star in the true sense of the word and she had talent. I was working in limerick city when the cranberries became huge and there was never a bad word said about them. She was a beautiful natural singer. The song Dreams always makes me stop what i do to hear the haunting voice especially at the end of the song. May you sing with the angels beautiful Dolores…
Nicely written Will.
Will, a great article. I was only listening to your sign off on your RTE Gold show this morning just before 10am while away on holiday. You mentioned to tune in tomorrow morning as always. Little did we know that on tomorrows show you will be probably playing a tribute to Dolores.
You are 100% correct in that Irish people are not fully aware of The Cranberries worldwide popularity and mega record sales, when this stuff mattered.
If you walk down Khosan Road in Bangkok, Thailand you are guaranteed to hear ‘Zombie’ blasted out of a market, coffee shop or a shop’s sound system.
RIP.
The loss feels really personal in Limerick tonight. She was one of our own. The Cranberries inspired so many youngsters in Limerick to pick up drumsticks and guitars . That’s part of their legacy too. We still have a thriving music scene in Limerick as a rexult. When the Cranberries made it most record companies didn’t move much outside Dublin to sign bands. We had a fantastic music scene in Limerick then too. Some bands got deals and didn’t make it. Others even supported David Bowie . The Cranberries against all the odds not only got the breakthrough but soared higher than anyone could have imagined. They were so young too.
Raven haired ex pupil of An Modh Scoil in Limerick
Waiting with her older brother Joseph for the lift home and she jumping on the school wall.
1978
Memories
RIP Dolores
It’s always very sad when someone so full of talent and so young dies. It’s as if the universe has been robbed.
Great article , I was fortunate to be st the concert in millstreet..I even dyed my hair the same colour as Delores… RIP Delores… thank you for the music … you were one of a kind.
@Mary Elizabeth Whittle: full of talent !!!
Very sad.
will leahy says it as it was . powerful voice front woman of a world great band . dolores had her demons but a beautiful voice and beautiful person would be verified by anyone who worked with her . Peace at last . God rest her Tortured Soul
Got to say Will well wrote and thoughtful.
Dolores was a great performer along with the lads.
She was so natural and absolutely gutted and shocked at the news.
I’m delighted most radio stations are playing the Bands music all night and rightly so.
R.I.P. Dolores and thank you for your Rawness and fabulous voice.
Thinking of Mike, Noel and Fergal not forgetting her immediate family and friends.
She was a great singer with some amazing songs, and they’ll live on.
But it’s the classic media response to a celebrity death, read the articles the journal had about her back in 2015 and 2016 when she was in the courts. Nothing against the writer here as I know it’s sincere, but there’s only ever a good word said of someone after their gone.
@Benny: no she wasn’t!! She was just lucky.. like most back then
Will…what a beautiful tribute. you succently described how we all feel in Limerick tonight. Thank you.
Fair play Will, beautiful poignant article. Such a shame we never got to see them play Thomond Park. That would have been a nice gig in her hometown. Really regret not getting an opportunity to see them live.
@John Caplis: Great point a shame really.
Would have been a Great Night..
Only a tortured soul can make a song so believable and for that I thank Dolores for all the talent and quintessential Irishness that we all adore.
Lovely stuff Will. Limerick , and Limerick music owe that band a HELL of a lot! As someone who works as an professional musician outside of Ireland , it’s funny to have guest singers once in a while , from literally every corner of the world requesting Zombie. A lot of them with barely a word of english. It’s also great to see that the band, and Dolores, call(ed)Limerick home, and couldn’t be more proud of where they come from. They go to the pub, they go to Munster matches and stand in the terraces, and go to the market on a Saturday morning . She did the same (although I cant recall seeing her in Thomond). She’ll be missed.
Well done Will
What a lovely tribute
After reading this article I went into my music app on my phone. The top 3 songs played today were Linger, Dreams and Zombie. Massive influence in music. Rip.
Nice tribute will. It’s surreal to read it so it must have been surreal to write it.
Such an amazing woman and unfortunately a troubled soul too. Heartbreaking to think she died alone.
Thanks for the music and the memories and for doing Limerick proud Dolores. Hope your resting place brings you peace
Heard Zombie many many times in Costello’s over the years. Too young to go
RIP
Wonderful tribute to a very special talent. Such a sad day.
Spread your wings and fly now Dolores we’re all sad and shocked now but won’t be such when we hear your beautiful voice again down through the ages.
@Dae Monicus: ????
That wonderful voice was part of my musical upbringing. I was playing classical cello at the time, and me and my toff mates would parody her voice breaking at the end of phrases. But I was being an arse and got it all wrong, because it would in fact break perfectly pitched with a distinct musical and emotional meaning behind it.
I remember how this suddenly dawned on me as I listened to her again a few years later, as I started playing trad, folk and rock, the music of the people.
Thank you Dolores, for teaching me a lesson about what really matters in music. And for teaching a dumb musical fool to listen to lyrics.
Nice words. Very sad today. From Ridiculous Thoughts. ” I cried so hard…..” RIP Dolores.
A great loss to her family and friends – and to music. I never got to see her but, will never stop listening.
15 years ago I lived in China teaching English. When I ran into a Chinese man who seemed unusually excited that I was Irish. He asked where in Ireland I was from. When I said Limerick he proceeded to talk about his love of the Cranberrys. Not only did he buy the albums, he bought them for friends and families, after what felt like 10 minutes of this guy raving about the Cranberrys he pulled one of the albums out of his bag. This is when I realised just how big they were. RIP sweet Dolores
Im gutted she was a legend
I always associate the Cranberries (in particular ‘Linger’) with the ‘Outback’ in Nancy Blake’s pub in Limerick. I clearly remember them being played on the big screen in Nancy’s. They were a great band and it’s awful that yet another musical talent is gone at such a young age.
Very well written beautiful well done.
Well done Will.
Lovely tribute. RIP Dolores.
A great read, thanks Will.
RIP Dolores, ar dheis Dé go hAnam .
Will what a lovely tribute .. very well said
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