Last week saw the tragic death of The Cranberries’ lead singer, Dolores O’Riordan. The huge crowds that gathered in Limerick this Sunday was a testament to how much she meant to her fans and her local community.

The lead singer of Irish rock band, The Cranberries’ was found “unresponsive” in a London hotel room last Friday. Dolores O’Riordan was only 46 and her death came as a huge shock to those who knew her. Her cause of death is as-yet unknown. Her fellow band members have said that they are devastated by the news.

In her career, O’Riordan paved the way for many women in the music industry, showing that a front woman could be just as powerful any man. She was an icon of alternative music in the 1990s, with the single ‘Linger’ reaching the US top 10 when O’Riordan was only 21. Her voice has been consistently described as haunting and beautiful by both fans and music critics and was a key part of the band’s global success.

She was a source of pride for Ireland; a hero of the country’s proud musical tradition. Originally from a working-class Limerick family, even in the height of her success, O’Riordan never forgot her roots. Irish folk music has a profound influence on her music and spoke out about the political turmoil of the nation, writing the hit song ‘Zombie’ about the 1993 IRA bombing of Warrington.

Sadly, O’Riordan suffered greatly in her personal life. She lived with mental illness for a long time, which culminated in a suicide attempt in 2013. She was a victim of abuse as a young child and struggled greatly with the consequences of fame.

Despite personal tragedy and a life ended far too soon, Dolores O’Riordan will live on through her
music. For women, for Ireland and for music fans everywhere, her voice and her legend will linger.

 

Katie O’Kelly