Dolores, Your Music Will Live On, Reminding Us Of You Always

We will remember January 2018 in Ireland for atrocious weather and, more particularly, for the untimely, very shocking and sad death of Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries fame on Monday, 15th January - world renowned singer, songwriter and performing artist - much loved across the generations for her strikingly beautiful singing voice as well as for her endearing public persona. May Dolores Rest in Peace. Dolores' Funeral commenced today, Sunday (in public reposal in Limerick), and she will be interred at Caherelly Cemetery, Co Limerick, in a private ceremony following a Requiem Mass at Ballybricken Church, Co Limerick, on Tuesday next (23/01/18).

The passing of Dolores is being felt in the Grange locality, as it is everywhere, as her family has ties with Holycross and Grange, which are near to neighbouring Ballybricken, where she grew up.

Brendan Madden, Grangeman, told me, yesterday, that he met Dolores out walking the Old Road in Grange in 2015, when they both stopped to converse for a while. Brendan described her as down-to-earth, engaging and easy to talk with. He asked her about her TV work around that time when she was a judge on the RTE programme, Voice of Ireland, and she talked with him about this experience. Dolores mentioned Brendan's father, Bill, who worked locally at one time with her own father, Terry, on a gardening project. Brendan enjoyed his short one-to-one with a global super star and Irish female icon.

Terry O'Riordan, father of Dolores, passed away in 2011. Terry went to national school in Grange as did several of his siblings, when they lived with their parents in Holycross. Their registrations at Grange National School are recorded in an article that appears in the Grange Parish Book (2015). Danny O'Riordan (RIP), grandfather of Dolores was an able story-teller, and a tale (the banshee) told by him can be read in the Folklore Collection in the Grange Parish Book. Since her passing, many, many tributes to Dolores have appeared in the media and social media from the worlds of entertainment, church, politics and beyond and, of course, from her enormous global fan base. The following are just a few of a large number that I have come across:

President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins - “It is with great sadness that I have learned of the death of Dolores O’Riordan, musician, singer and song writer,” he wrote. “Dolores O’Riordan and The Cranberries had an immense influence on rock and pop music in Ireland and internationally. I recall with fondness the late Limerick TD Jim Kemmy’s introduction of her and The Cranberries to me, and the pride he and so many others took in their successes. To all those who follow and support Irish music, Irish musicians and the performing arts her death will be a big loss.”

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar - "Dolores O’Riordan was the voice of a generation. For anyone who grew up in Ireland in the 1990s, the Cranberries were an iconic band, who captured all of the angst that came with your teenager years. The Cranberries were hugely successful not just at home, but also overseas, particularly in the United States where they received critical acclaim. Dolores’ unique voice ensured that the band’s biggest hits sound as good today as when they were released more than 20 years ago. As the female lead singer of an international rock band, Dolores blazed a trail and was arguably Limerick’s greatest ever rock star. Her voice and her contribution to music will be remembered far beyond her native county for many years to come. I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Dolores O’Riordan’s family at this incredibly difficult time."

Willie O'Dea, T.D. - Limerick Fianna Fáil TD, Willie O’Dea, said that Limerick would always be proud of O’Riordan, who he described as “full of life”. "I met Dolores O’Riordan on a number of occasions over the years, including at her brother PJ's wedding, and always found her very friendly and full of life." “I want to express my sincere condolences to her mother Eileen, her children and all her siblings and wider family and friends on their tragic loss.”

Councillor Brigid Teefy (Limerick City & County Council) - Cllr. Teefy said Dolores was a local girl with millions of fans. "She was only 18 / 19 when she started with The Cranberries. They were a phenomenal success, selling over 40 million records. She had a beautiful and unique voice." "Despite all the fame she was a regular visitor home and was there very recently. She is a huge loss to her family and our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with them. The world has lost a huge talent."

Dolores with her Mum, Eileen, in Bruff, Co Limerick

The world is a better place, Dolores, for your extraordinary life, and your music will live on, continuing to bring pleasure and inspiration to many around the world. Zombie, Dreams, Linger and so, so many more songs will remind us of you, always. Thank you for the memories.

Our thoughts are with Dolores' mother, Eileen, her children and their father, her siblings, her other family members and relatives and her friends, to whom we offer our sincerest sympathy and condolences.

Book of Condolences - Sign Online (Limerick City & County Council)

Requiem Mass: "WATCH: Dolores O'Riordan's close friends and family take part in simple, unadorned ceremony" (By: Norma Prendiville, Limerick Leader)

See below for a selection of media reports.

Best Regards,

Tommy Hourigan (on behalf of the Grange Parish Website Administration)

PS The following is the text of a message that I received from Dr Éamonn Ó hÓgáin, after the initial posting of this blog item. Éamonn wrote the Réamhrá/Foreword to the Grange Parish Book (2015), and he also gave an oration at the opening of the 1916 Rising Remembrance Garden in Grange in 2016.

"A Thomáis, a chara,Thank you very much for your message and contents about poor Dolores O'Riordan. I did not know her, but I remember her grandfather well and her father. The last time I met her father was after a hurling match in Cork in which Limerick had beaten Cork. Bríd, my wife, and friends were standing outside the stadium when one of our group pointed out a low-sized man nearby, saying 'That's Dolores Riordan's father'. I introduced myself to the jolly looking man and asked him how he was and how was Dolores. 'She's a great little girl', he said, 'and we had a great time with her when she brought my wife and myself with her to South America when she was on tour there'. Himself and myself ended up singing at the top of our voices songs in praise of Limerick and Bruff. I am sure passers-by thought we were mad. Beannacht Dé ar an bhfear bocht agus ar a iníon álainn cheolmhar atá imithe uainn sa tsíoraíocht! Give my regards to my friends in Grange.Thanks again, Tom."

PS The Limerick Leader edition of Saturday, 27th January, 2018, says "FAREWELL DOLORES" in a 3-page tribute - "FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FANS SAY GOODBYE TO A ROCK ICON". The article by Norma Prendiville is touching and superb, accompanied by equally lovely pieces by her colleagues, Maria Flannery, Alan Owens, Donal O'Regan and Jess Casey. The three pages carry many photographs - one of Dolores in her wedding gown on her wedding day on a two-wheeled car, pulled by a white horse, is especially poignant.

I hope to post images of the the three pages (text and photographs) on this website in due course.

Read a selection of media reports - CLICK on Links below (additional links will be added over time):

"... not so much a funeral as an enfolding..." (irishtimes.com)

Requiem Mass (rte.ie)

Requiem Mass (irishtimes.com)

Requiem Mass (independent.ie)

Requiem Mass (irishmirror.ie)

Requiem Mass (thejournal.ie)

President Higgins attended removal of Dolores O'Riordan at Ballyneety, Co Limerick (irishtimes.com)

Removal of Dolores O'Riordan (rte.ie)

Removal of Dolores O'Riordan (irishmirror.ie)

From Mexico to Limerick to say Goodbye to Dolores (irishmirror.ie)