PHOTOS & VIDEO – Hundreds of people gather for Dolores O Riordan vigil

Over 500 turned up in Arthur’s Quay Park for a Dolores O Riordan vigil to honour and remember Dolores O’Riordan on the night before her funeral. Photograph Liam Burke/Press 22

Hundreds of people gather in Limerick for Dolores O Riordan vigil

By ilovelimerick correspondent Ryan O Connell

Just a week after news that Dolores O Riordan had died, the people of her hometown were out in force to celebrate her life and legacy at the Dolores O Riordan vigil. Despite the cold weather of the evening, Limerick locals gathered with warmth in Arthur’s Quay Park to sing along and commemorate Dolores O Riordan’s incredible career.

Limerick musicians at the Dolores O Riordan vigil  Photography by Sophie Goodwin/ILoveLimerick

Speaking of the Dolores O Riordan vigil, Limerick native Marianna Walsh said, “I’m here to remember Dolores and her talent, her spirit, her heart. She’s a Limerick woman and so am I”. Sarah Jane Hennelly also expressed her reasoning for coming to the Dolores O Riordan vigil, saying, “[Dolores O Riordan] is just a legend and she was so talented”. Limerick local Siobhan Griffin emphasized the importance of Dolores O Riordan’s music, saying, “I think she shared her music and it really helped a lot of people. You can identify with it and I think that’s why people loved her so much”.

Organiser Paula McSweeney expressed her thanks to everyone who turned up to pay tribute at the Dolores O Riordan vigil. Speaking of the event, McSweeney said, “We just wanted to create a little get together as a tribute to Dolores O Riordan. Everybody in Limerick would have grown up listening to The Cranberries and just loved their music. It’s just our way of showing how much we are going to miss her”.

The Dolores O Riordan vigil was held outside Chez Le Fab in Arthur’s Quay Park. Owner Lesley Anne Liddane said, “We were delighted when Jane Fraser and Paula McSweeney came to us to book the venue for this event considering that Limerick meant so much to Dolores”.

Dolores O Riordan died suddenly in London last week, at the age of 46. The lead singer of The Cranberries, Dolores O Riordan was acclaimed across the world for her unique musicality and talent, fronting world-renowned hits such as ‘Zombie’ and ‘Linger’. Dolores O Riordan was laid to rest on Tuesday, January 23rd 2018 in Ballybricken in County Limerick.

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Pictures: Sophie Goodwin/ILoveLimerick