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THE MOTHER OF Dolores O’Riordan fought back tears today as she accepted an honorary doctorate of Letters from the University of Limerick, on behalf of her deceased rock star daughter.
The body of the world-famous singer with The Cranberries was found submerged in a bath in her bedroom in a London hotel, on 15 January last year.
An inquest last September found the iconic performer had drowned while intoxicated with alcohol.
Honorary Doctorates of Letters were also bestowed on O’Riordan’s bandmates, siblings Noel Hogan (guitarist) and Mike Hogan (bassist), as well as drummer Fergal Lawler who was unable to attend today’s event.
O’Riordan’s devastated mother, Eileen, who clutched the college gown that her daughter would have been wearing to accept her award, admitted the special day was tinged with sadness.
“It is (sad), it is really, you know… I suppose we have to move on haven’t we…we have to,” she said.
I know that (Dolores) is happy and she is in heaven, and that makes me happy.
Eileen, a devout catholic and a member of her local church choir in Ballybricken, and who is also her local parish church sacristan, continued: “I just wish she was here. I’d say she is with us in spirit.”
Flanked by the Hogan brothers, she expressed delight the band decided to record a final album in memory of Dolores.
However, Eileen revealed she has not yet listened to the first single All Over Now, released last Tuesday on her daughter’s first anniversary, which is taken from The Cranberries final new album In The End, due out on 26 April.
“I think it’s great. She really loved it… I didn’t hear it yet -I didn’t listen to it yet.”
“What I find very hard is somebody else singing (the band’s) songs. I find that kind of (difficult),” she added.
Accepting her daughter’s award was “a great honour”.
“I feel awed really. I find it hard to comprehend and take it all in,” she added.
Dolores wasn’t aware how much she was loved by her native city and county, Eileen said.
No, I don’t think she did (know). She loved Limerick and she was very proud of Limerick and she was happier in Limerick than anyplace else. I didn’t realise how much she was loved. I keep telling the children how much everyone loved her, and what a support it is, and how comforting it is to us as a family.
For a few brief moments, smiles replaced their sadness at missing Dolores, as Noel Hogan joked that O’Riordan would have got “a skit” and “a great kick out of this”.
A few years before O’Riordan’s death, she and the rest of the band were approached by UL about the idea of being awarded honorary doctorates, however it was not to be, due to the band’s work commitments.
“Even when this was brought up about four years ago I remember (Dolores) telling her brothers, who had different degrees, that she’d be more qualified than they were…That was her personality so I think she’d be really loving this today,” Hogan added.
“Proud” of getting their honorary awards, the Limerick brothers acknowledged their emotions were also “very mixed” by celebrating with their families without Dolores.
In a final tribute to their legendary frontwoman, Noel said: “It feels the thirty years of hard work has brought us to this moment. It’s very mixed, but I think the way to look at it is like a celebration of Dolores and the band.”
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And here we have another scaremongering climate zealot trying to spread unnecessary panic,
Thankfully the average working person pays no attention to such people.
@Edward O’T.: The average working person is probably too busy dealing with their own personal problems to realise that this will affect them aswell but I wouldn’t take it upon myself to speak for us all. As for your first sentence, I think you may need to do a little research on what is actually happening to our little sphere and its atmosphere before going on about scaremongering and zealotry.
@Diarmuid Hunt: it’s climate cult ideology at it finest or maybe at it’s worst,
@Diarmuid Hunt: anything Edward and his ilk are unwilling to face the reality of because they can’t handle adversity = ‘Scaremongering’.
@Setanta O’Toole: I have handled more adversity in a long life since the fifties than you I am fairly sure, my list is long.
And over that time this climate you are whining about has changed little to over that time.
Here’s an opinion, open the comments sections again. Closed on every second article, even the recent one about Twitter “not engaging” with garda. Too right because today it’s riots in dublin, tomorrow its your rights been eroded and not allowing any opposition views to be heard just because the state tell them.
@Daniel Murray: Those making nasty comments can be blamed for the loss of comments
In essence, we are the carbon they want to reduce…
The Journal is an absolute joke. Struggling to put into words how pathetic the editors are. I genuinely feel pity to those who think they’re being journalists, you’re all being fooled. The rag reeks of propaganda, bias and flat out lies by word and ommision.
We see you for what you are. A vile machination of the corruption that is poisoning Ireland from the top down. Delete my comment all you like, the truth of my words will remain. Disgraceful carry on, how do you sleep at night with the shame of it?
@Ross O’: and instead of uninstalling the app you make multiple profiles and act like some sort of victim
@Martin Mongan: I’d normally ask you to provide a shred of evidence to support your claim, but I’ll save you the bother by saying everything about what you said is wrong.
@Peter Murray: Imagine missing the mark so much you think that’s what I’m really angry about.
@Ross O’: spot on Ross…and god forbid actually opening comments on something people actually want to talk about such as blatant genocide in 2024 for fear of shattering the image portrayed to the public though the editors prism. They are very exposed on this and we can see them clearly now for what they are.
Being able to buy credits is a bit of a joke as these countries emitting the most just pay it and do nothing. We can do everything humanly possible on our little island and it wont make much impact we’ll still endure the consequences of what’s coming
@Lydia Mcloughlin: only benefits the rich people – same people who are advocating for a social credit system that would make Winnie the Pooh blush.
Conmen
Organise
Pissup
Number 28
“80% of Irish people are in favour of cutting our climate-changing pollution by at least 51% by 2030: with 50% of people actually saying we should do more than that.”… So what’s the plan?… oh, nothing. Bravo
@Thesaltyurchin: Who did they ask lmao put up a ballot box at Davos?
@Thesaltyurchin: what % said they like to pay for the reduction?
@P. V. Aglue: Its a quote from the article where I’m highlighting the lack of ideas for the progress of our threadbare infrastructures. It’s my bad for assuming that people read the article tho, lol. (but yea, Irish people will chant ‘lock them up’ but then flee when the bill arrives).
population increase means more emmissions.
@Damian Moylan: sssh. ..Don’t mention the elephant in the room.
It’s all over…
@Gerry Dornan: the solution is in the article………. more money
@Ken Mc Carthy: It kind of is … According to Bill Gates on YouTube.
Search for Listen carefully
Be nice
Utter bull . It was 2 degrees warmer in Roman times. It’s thought the cooling led to reduced crop yields and more arid conditions. AD 1000 and grapes were grown in the UK. Vikings in Greenland and Newfoundland. Only left when it got colder.
Watch towers , and covert activities by AGS on O’Connell street would be a move in the right direction . They could even put members on patrol on the streets and in the housing estates!
have your say